Nigeria – “Yar’Adua’s Mother Technically Made Me Who I Am Today” – Nigerian Former President, Jonathan

By Utebor Paul, Nigeria

Nigerian former president, Goodluck Jonathan, has said Hajiya Dada Yar’Adua, the mother of his former boss, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who passed on the 2nd of September 2024, technically made him who he is today.

Speaking to journalists in Katsina on Saturday during a condolence visit to the Yar’Adua family, Jonathan described the late matriarch as an important figure in his life, crediting her for the growth of his political career.

He said: “This woman technically made me who I am. Her death is really touching to me. It was her son who brought me as his running mate, and without this woman, you wouldn’t have known my name.

“She was like my mother, and this is like the death of my mother. It is a very sad moment for all of us.”

Recalling how he received the news of her passing, the former president said, “I travelled on Monday because I was going to Kigali. When I arrived in Addis Ababa, our head of mission there told me about the sad news.”

Jonathan went on to extend his condolences to the Yar’Adua family and the people of Katsina State, acknowledging the significant role Hajiya Dada played in the development of Nigeria through her children.

“On behalf of myself, my team, my community, and my state, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Yar’Adua family and indeed to the good people of Katsina State,” he stated.

The former president also praised the life and legacy of the late Hajiya Dada, describing her as a blessed woman who lived a long, meaningful life.

He said: “She was a mother that we lost, but Allah has blessed her. To live this long shows that Allah has accepted her. She was a good woman, she was a blessed woman, she brought children that contributed significantly to the development of our great nation.”

The passing of Hajiya Dada Yar’Adua has drawn tributes from across the country, as many Nigerians continue to honor her memory and the lasting impact of the Yar’Adua family on the nation’s political landscape.