In Memory of Late General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua By Mohammed Habib As the nation commemorates the 9th & 10th Year Remembrance of one of the Nigeria’s political icons, the Tafidan Katsina, a one time Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters in the late 70s, a one time presidential aspirant in the IBB’s botched transition programmes, and indeed the political bridge-builder of Nigeria’s contemporary politics in the person of Late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, I wish to join all well meaning Nigerians in paying him a special tribute.
In so doing, I am tempted to reproduce a particular letter the late
political juggernaut wrote to Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
from his Abakiliki prison where he was solitarily confined by the
late Abacha junta. In the said letter, which Chief
Obasanjo as a prisoner received in Yola prison, the Tafida
had this to say:
I am sure you know that Nigeria will
always be at the forefront of my thoughts. You need not fear about my
continued commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians. My
present worries and prayers are that the present junta do not so
devastate the country that it becomes impossible to rehabilitate. We
will continue to pray.
Interestingly, though the era of Military regime had become an
aberration in the lexicon of Nigerian Politics, indications from
1999-2007 showed that the hang-over of Military Rule was not yet over
under the immediate past of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It was
an era of impunity where abuse of due process, disregard to the rule of
law, political strangulation of presumed opponents, selective injustice,
monumental corruption and blind loyalty were the order of the day.
However, as he rightly wrote to his friend, Former United States’
President Jimmy Carter in 1997:
My incarceration and ordeal in the hands
of General Abatcha is a sacrifice some of us must make for our country
to be free...
That sacrifice has been vindicated through former President Olusegun
Obasanjo who against all odds influenced the emergence of his
younger brother, Mallam Umaru Musa Yar’adua. Obasanjo not only ensured
his emergence as the Presidential flag-bearer of the most gigantic
Political Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, but also saw to his being
elected through do or die scenario as the President of the most
populous black nation in the globe (Nigeria) against two of his own too.
General Muhammadu Buhari, a childhood friend of his and Atiku Abubakar (Turakin
Adamawa) who was Tafida’s avowed and unrepentant ally. They all
contested for the coveted office in their burning desires to rule
Nigeria but gallantly got defeated.
The junta referred to then was the Military Institution headed by the
late maximum ruler General Sani Abacha and surrounded by
characters like the Mantus, Jerry Ganas, Ojo Maduekwes,
Anenihs to mention but a few. Ironically, these
pseudo-politicians who wined and dined with the government that
inflicted psychological injury to him were before now wining and dining
under the canopy of Tafida’s impeccable philosophy.
If the General were alive today, one would have advised him to
re-write these uniquely enriched letters that paradoxically encapsulate
the typical character of Nigerian leaders of today worst than the
dreaded military era he thus fought to a stand-still through his
awesome, prim, and indefatigable allies like the Turakin Adamawa, Atiku
Abubakar (Nigeria’s Former Vice President), Ambassador B.G Kingibe,
Yomi Edu, Muhammadu Koiranga Jada, Sani Zangon Daura, Professor Ango
Abdullahi, Dapo Sarumi and others. No wonder that the democrats of today
use the Yar’adua Centre, a Centre founded in his memory to
propagate the philosophy, ideals and principles which he laboured,
nurtured, believed and died for.
While even in death, I salute his political sagacity and dynamic
leadership provided in the political development of Nigeria unequalled
as far as contemporary politics of Nigeria is concerned. I wish to use
this medium to appeal to the political leadership of our country to
sheath their swords and support the leadership of Malam Umaru Musa
Yar’adua (Mutawalin Katsina) as he takes Nigeria to the
Promised Land via his 7-Point Agenda by the special grace of Almighty
God.
I believe that with the giant strides
recorded by Mr. President so far in steering the affairs of the country,
no amount of economic sabotage, societal brigandage or political
hara-kiri would impede him in realizing his dream of making Nigeria to
be among the best 20 economically buoyant countries in the World by the
year 2020.
Finally, as President Umaru Musa Yar’adua is reaping from the fruits of
his late brother’s labour which he sowed after many years of give and
take, may the gentle soul of Tafida continue to live in perfect peace
where we all shall meet to part no more.
MOHAMMED HABIB
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