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Umaru Musa Yar'AduaGCFR ((listen^ⓘ); 16 August ^[4]&#;&#; 5 May ) was a Nigerianpolitician who served as the president of Nigeria from until his death in May He won the Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April , and was sworn in on 29 May

He had previously served as the governor of Katsina State from to ;^[5][6] and was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In , Yar'Adua left for Saudi Arabia to receive treatment for pericarditis. He returned to Nigeria on 24 February , but died on 5 May.^[7][8]

Early life

Family

Yar'adua was born in Katsina State, Nigeria.^[9] His father, Musa Yar'Adua, was a Minister for Lagos in the First Republic and held the chieftaincy title of Matawalle (custodian of the royal treasury) of the Katsina Emirate, a title which the younger Yar'Adua inherited.

His paternal grandfather, Malam Umaru, had also held the title of Matawallen Katsina, while his paternal grandmother, Binta, was a princess of the Katsina Emirate and a sister of emir Muhammadu Dikko.^[10][11]

Yar'Adua married Turai Yar'Adua of Katsina state in ;^[12] they had seven children (five daughters and two sons) and several grandchildren.^[13] Their daughter, Zainab, is married to the former Kebbi state governor, Usman Dakingari.^[14]

Another daughter, Nafisa, is married to Isa Yuguda, a former governor of Bauchi state.

Her sister Maryam is married to Ibrahim Shema, Yar'Adua's successor as Katsina state governor.^[15][16]

Yar'Adua was also married to Hauwa Umar Radda from to , and they had two children.^[17]

Education

Yar'Adua started his education at Rafukka Primary School in , and moved to Dutsinma Boarding Primary School in He attended the Government College at Keffi from until In he received a Higher School Certificate from Barewa College.^[18] He attended Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria from to , where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Education and Chemistry, and then returned in to pursue a master's degree in Analytical Chemistry.^[18]

Yar'Adua's first employment was at Holy Child College in Lagos (–76).

He later served as a lecturer at the College of Arts, Science, and Technology in Zaria, Kaduna state, between and In , he began working as a lecturer at College of Art Science, remaining in this position until , when he began working in the corporate sector.^[19]

Yar'Adua worked at Sambo Farms Ltd.

in Funtua, Katsina state, as its pioneer General Manager, between and He served as a board member of Katsina State Farmers' Supply Company between and , Member of the Governing Council of Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology Zaria and Katsina Polytechnic, between and , board chairman of Katsina State Investment and Property Development Company between and ^{[citation needed]}

He also served as a director of many companies, including Habib Nigeria Bank Ltd, –99; Lodigiani Nigeria Ltd., –99, Hamada Holdings, –99; and Madara Ltd., Vom, Jos, – He was Chairman of Nation House Press Ltd., Kaduna, from to ^[20]

Party politics

During the Second Republic (–83), Yar'Adua was a member of the leftist People's Redemption Party, while his father was briefly the National Vice Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria.

Joshua Dariye PDP. Among the recommendations of the committee was constitutional measures to make the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC truly independent, removing some of the activities of INEC with the creation of an electoral commission and a parties registration agency. While talking with President George W. Corruption had long been a serious problem in Nigeria, with a seeming majority of elected and appointed officials using their position to enrich their own coffers.

During the transition programme of General Ibrahim Babangida to the Third Republic, Yar'Adua was one of the foundation members of the Peoples Front of Nigeria with other members such as Atiku Abubakar, Baba Gana Kingibe, Bola Tinubu, Sabo Bakin Zuwo, Wada Abubakar, Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, Abubakar Koko and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a political association under the leadership of his elder brother, the late Major-General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua.

That association later formed the Social Democratic Party. Yar'Adua was a member of the Constituent Assembly. He was a member of the party's National Caucus and the Nigerian Social Democratic Party's (SDP) State Secretary in Katsina. He contested for the governorship position in the election, but lost to Saidu Barda, the candidate of the National Republican Convention.^[21]

Governor of Katsina

In , Yar'Adua won the Katsina state governorship election.^[10] He was the first governor to publicly declare his assets.^[22] Yar'Adua's administration saw various developments in the state.

Katsina became the fifth northern Nigerian state to adopt sharia, or Islamic law.^[23] Education was prioritised and several schools were built in local areas. Yar'Adua also delivered on his promise of running an efficient public administration, with corruption significantly hampered. In , he was re-elected for a second term in office and his successor was Ibrahim Shema.^{[citation needed]}

Further information: Nigerian presidential election

Between 16 and 17 December , Yar'Adua was chosen as the presidential candidate of the ruling People's Democratic Party for the April election, receiving 3, votes from party delegates; his closest rival, Rochas Okorocha, received votes.^[24] Yar'Adua's success in the primary election was attributed to the support of incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo;^[24][25] At the time of his nomination, he was an obscure figure on the national stage, and has been described as a "puppet" of Obasanjo, who could not have won the nomination under fair circumstances.^[25] Shortly after his nomination, Yar'Adua chose Goodluck Jonathan, governor of Bayelsa state, as his vice-presidential candidate.^[24][25] Another view regarding the support he received from President Olusegun Obasanjo is that, he was one of few serving governors with a spotless record, devoid of any suspicions or charges of corruption.^[25] He also belonged to the People's Democratic Movement (PDM)&#;– a powerful political block, founded by his late brother, Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, who was Obasanjo's second-in-command during his military rule.^{[citation needed]}

In the presidential election held on 21 April , Yar'Adua won 70% of the votes ( million votes) according to official results released on 23 April.

The election was highly controversial. Strongly criticized by observers, as well as the two primary opposition candidates, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Action Congress (AC), the result was largely rejected as having been rigged in Yar'Adua's favour.^[26]

After the election, Yar'Adua proposed a government of national unity.

In late June , two opposition parties, the ANPP and the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), agreed to join Yar'Adua's government.^[27]

Cabinet

Yar'Adua's new cabinet was sworn in on 26 July ^[28][29] It included 39 ministers, including two for the ANPP.^[29]

National agenda

In August , the administration unveiled a seven-point agenda to be the focal point of the administration's solution to developmental challenges and stated goal of elevating Nigeria to be among the twenty largest economies in the world by ^[30]

• Infrastructure, power and energy
• Food security
• Wealth creation
• Transport
• Land reforms
• Security
• Education

Due to his illness and death, the administration was unable to realise the agenda.^[31] The power sector was not adequately funded, infrastructural deficit was not closed down and the troublesome process of reforming land use regulations hampered a reform of the land tenure law.^[31]

Electoral reforms

Yar'Adua established a presidential electoral reform committee to look into the legal factors, social and political institutions and security issues that affects the quality and credibility of elections in the country and also, to make recommendations on improving the credibility of elections.

The reform committee was headed by Mohammed Uwais, a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Among the recommendations of the committee was constitutional measures to make the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) truly independent, removing some of the activities of INEC with the creation of an electoral commission and a parties registration agency.

It also recommended speedy resolution of legal challenges of elections, presumably before the swearing in ceremony of the victor of the seat being challenged.^[32]

Foreign Policy

During his tenure as president, Yar'Adua had tried to improve foreign relations with other countries to also help with social justice and national security.

While talking with President George W. Bush, he had explained that he would help fight corruption within Nigeria and help grow the economy. Though, this turned out not to be so and instead he weakened foreign relations with other countries. For instance, as more Nigerians engaged in trips abroad and consequently increased interactions with citizens of other states, issues of maltreatment of Nigerians abroad equally escalated in equal proportion.

Thus, the period between and seemed characterised of an era when globalization heavily impacted Nigeria's foreign relations rather negatively. What appears to give credence to this is the fact that many Nigerians, in an attempt to utilize opportunities offered by globalization, became victims of the integration process. During the administration, incidences against Nigerians in the course of the country's foreign relations with other states were at a high level.

It was the same across Africa, Europe, and Asia. For instance, in May , South Africans unleashed xenophobic attacks on immigrants and many Nigerians suffered grievous loss and distress in the process.

National Security

Violence in the Niger Delta

Under Yar'Adua, Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta became increasingly militarized and insecure.

Scores of civilians were murdered by armed gangs and security forces in , and the violence further impeded the impoverished region's development. Much of the insecurity that plagued the Delta was directly related to failures of governance at all levels. Despite massive budget increases due to rising oil prices, federal, state, and local governments made no effective effort to address the grinding poverty and environmental degradation that lay at the heart of political discontent in the region.

Instead, many regional political figures were directly implicated in sponsoring and arming militia groups that carried out violent abuses. His amnesty initiative for militants later brought peace into the Niger Delta.^[33]

Boko Haram Uprising

In early , Boko Haram launched a military campaign for Islamic rule in Nigeria.

According to initial media reports, the violence began on 26 July when Boko Haram launched an attack on a police station in Bauchi State. Clashes between the militants and the Nigeria Police Force erupted in Kano, Yobe and Borno. Which led Yar'Adua to order an investigation into the killing of the leader of the radical Islamist sect, which was responsible for violence that left more than people dead.

Many are devastated and the war is still going on today.^{[citation needed]}

Illness

Yar'Adua left Nigeria on 23 November , and was reported to be receiving treatment for pericarditis at a clinic in Saudi Arabia. He was not seen in public again, and his absence created a power vacuum which was usurped by a cabal.^[34] On 22 January , the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had fourteen days to decide a resolution on whether Yar'Adua was "incapable of discharging the functions of his office".

The ruling also stated that the Federal Executive Council should hear testimony of five doctors, one of whom should be Yar'Adua's personal physician.^[35]

Doctrine of necessity

On 9 February , the Senate controversially used the "doctrine of necessity" to transfer Presidential Powers to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, and declared him Acting President, with all the accompanying powers, until Yar'Adua returned to full health.

The power transfer, considered illegal by some, was described as a "coup without the word" by opposition lawyers and lawmakers. However, there were others who felt the power vacuum would lead to instability and a possible military takeover.^[36]

Personal life

Health

In , Yar'Adua, who suffered from a kidney condition, challenged his critics to a game of squash in an endeavor to end speculations about his health.^[37] On 6 March , he was flown to Germany for medical reasons, further fomenting rumors about his health.

His spokesperson said this was due to stress and quoted Yar'Adua as saying he was fine and would soon be back to campaigning. Another report, which was rejected by Yar'Adua's spokesperson, claims that Yar'Adua collapsed after suffering a possible heart attack.^[38]

Wealth

On 28 June , Yar'Adua publicly revealed his declaration of assets from May (becoming the first Nigerian president to do so), according to which he had ₦,, (US$ million) in assets, ₦19 million ($ million) of which belonged to his wife.

He also had ₦88,, ($ million) in liabilities. This disclosure, which fulfilled a pre-election promise he made, was intended to set an example for other Nigerian politicians and discourage corruption.^[22]

Death and aftermath

On 24 February , Yar'Adua returned to Abuja under the cover of darkness.^[39] His state of health was unclear, but there was speculation that he was still on a life support machine.^[40] Various political and religious figures in Nigeria had visited him during his illness saying he would make a recovery.

Yar'Adua died on 5 May at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.^[41][42][43] An Islamic burial took place on 6 May in his hometown in Katsina.^[44][45]

The Federal Government of Nigeria declared a seven-day mourning period.^[46] Acting President Goodluck Jonathan said "Nigeria has lost the jewel on its crown and even the heavens mourn with our nation tonight.

As individuals and as a nation we prayed for the recovery of Mr President. But we take solace in the fact that the Almighty is the giver and taker of all life."^[47]

US President Barack Obama offered condolences, stating: "He was committed to creating lasting peace and prosperity within Nigeria's own borders, and continuing that work will be an important part of honoring his legacy."^[43]

See also

References

External links

Media related to Umaru Yar'Adua at Wikimedia Commons Quotations related to Umaru Musa Yar'Adua at Wikiquote