Yar'adua:10 years on, his legacy lives on.

By

Abdullahi D Mohammed




Leadership in Nigeria, and, to a very large extent, Africa is one of many challenges confronting the continent. After nearly six decades of independence, most African countries still grapple with deficit in purposeful leadership, and, absence of harmony between the governed. From Zimbabwe to Tanzania, Tunisia to Nigeria, the story is the same.
The closest any African leader came to redeeming its image, was Nelson Mandela who epitomizes good governance. Most African leaders had not broken the yoke or shackles of colonialism. We are yet to see a radical departure from imperial tendencies. There is a continued patronage and dependence by African leaders on Bretton Woods institutions despite our own African Development Bank.

In Nigeria, the first Republic produced nationalist, who, eventually became the founding fathers that laid the foundation of modern Nigeria, those were Nigeria's most glorious moments. Some policies implemented then especially the National Development Plan, which birthed some legacy projects we still enjoy today.

Such leadership was missing during military incursions and through the Second and Third republic.
The Fourth republic however, which begin from May 29, 1999 was unarguably unique in many ways in Nigeria's political history. The era witnessed unprecedented technological breakthroughs and increased citizens participations in political processes. Again, population has tremendously increased as all kinds of socio-political crisis became the order. Therefore, it was an era that requires an insightful, resolute and firm leadership.
Many would agree, from 1999-2020, the crop of leaders Nigeria had hasn't the wherewithal to spur Nigeria to greatness.

In the same period, the only Nigerian leader that demonstrated the audacity to propelled her to greatness was late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua. The two-time Katsina Governor was the first in many ways. He was the first University graduate to rule Nigeria, the first to reduce the pump price of petrol at a time the economy was in crisis. And the first to publicly declare his assets. Armed with vision and focus, many will remember President Yar'adua' s 7point agenda. He never came with a bogus plan, rather had an elaborate yet firm agenda that could transform the country. He engaged the rebellous and rampaging Niger Delta militants to bring to an end restiveness in the region through an ambitious Amnesty and rehabilitation program. The program was applauded by all as it stabilize not only the region, but the entire oil industry and the economy.

Late President Yar'adua should go with the name Mr Rule of law. It is utterly strange in Africa for a leader to publicly declare that an election that brought him to power was fraught with irregularities. Talking about rule of law, it would be recalled that it was during Obasanjo regime that the Lagos state Government had its statutory allocation unconstitutionally seized as a result of the creation of additional Local Council Development Authority. But on assuming office, President Yar'adua released the funds to the state. He equally displayed an uncommon trait and show of humility and transparency when he affirmed the election that brought him to power was not free and fair,thereby promised to overhaul and reform the entire electoral process. And, like the gentleman he was, he kept to his pledge when he inaugurated the Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais-led committee on electoral reforms.

Another highpoint of the Yar'adua administration was the dredging of River Niger which he pursued fervently. We must note that such noble idea of dredging the River Niger was conceived by the colonial administration as far back as the 1950s. Preparations for independence halted it, and successive governments failed to resuscitate and execute it. As the river linking the South to the North, the economic viability of such projects are huge. First, the dredging ensure that all the route from Baro, Niger State to Warri in Delta State will be accessible for vessels to take advantage by moving goods and services from the hinterland and interior of northernmost part of the country thereby boosting economic activities.

A more visible signature project of the Late Yar'adua was the expansion of the airport road, Abuja and, Zuba-Kubwa expressway which greatly reduced traffic gridlock on the ever-busy gateway to the FCT.
Obviously, the greatest and most profound challenge of the Yar'adua presidency was the resurgence of the dreaded Boko Haram group led by Mohammed Yusuf, whose capture and execution heightened the activities of the terror group.

President Yar'adua had died many times before his final hour. His prevailing health condition had given rise to fake news where many a time he was rumored to have died.

In the build up to the 2007 general elections, rumours were rife that Yar'adua had died prompting then President Obasanjo during a campaign trail to publicly put a call through to him in far away Germany asking whether he was dead. He made it back, contested and won the 2007 election.

Humans are eternal mortals who pass away at the appointed time. Both faiths agree on the realms of natural necessity, which is death. The passing away to the great beyond of President Yar'adua was a natural necessity, so, the most significant thing is what legacy does he bequeathed the nation he served?
Every soul that passed away is confronted with two realities-God's judgement in the hereafter, and, Humans judgement on earth, basically about what he leaves behind, his legacy, conducts and ethos.

Ten years on, these sterling and shining legacies lives on. President Yar'adua was touted as the best president Nigeria ever had. His presidency was short lived, yet fulfilled. His simplicity and humility was legendary. Ten years on, even his foes had come to attest to the goodness in him. In Nigeria's modern history, hardly can any leader equal Yar'adua's passion and desire to unite and take the country to the next level- not the present level though.

Many called him Baba-go-slow, but he was cautiously threading on a landmine, avoiding the mistakes of his predecessors. He was going slowly, steadily, and meticulously- and, the results of the slowness were felt across the country. The hopeless became hopeful, the pessimist, optimist. He was a true patriot.

These were the trajectory of the Yar'adua presidency. A visionary leader who came prepared to lead, who had a clear vision and roadmap to redeem the country out of doldrum and state of hopelessness and doom.

As many would say, good things don't last- good people don't last too. When Nigeria was on the verge of redemption and its finest moment guaranteed, the cold hands of death took away the redeemer.

On May 5, 2010, exactly 10 years, Nigeria's finest went to the great beyond. He didn't leave with our hope! He left behind his noble ideas, his 7point agenda, his legacies, and ultimately, everything he wanted Nigeria to be.

The onus is on us to fine tune these ideas, to seek, and ELECT leaders with ideals and passion for better Nigeria.
Above all, Yar'adua left behind a challenge for us all- see a Nigeria we all dream of. We cannot be complacent, hopeless and doubtful. President Yar'adua had demonstrated to us that, if we seek his type,- the kind of leadership we wanted, we could have it. We could build and have a Nigeria we wanted, and generations unborn would be proud of.
Death took away Yar'adua, but, death didn't take away his legacy- it lived with us. Rest on, leader. May Allah Almighty continue to rest your Soul.

Abdullahi D Mohammed is with the Department of Political Science and International Studies at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He writes from Kano.
abdullahkidnyce@gmail.com