A former First Lady of Nigeria, Hajiya Turai, has said that her late husband, Umaru Yar’Adua, was a simple and decent man who did not want anything to do with the vagaries and troubles of politics.
Speaking on Saturday with the BBC Hausa Service on the 13th-year anniversary of her husband’s death, Turai disclosed that Yar’Adua never wanted to be President nor was he desperate about the position.
The late Yar’Adua served as the President of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010. He was declared the winner of the presidential election held on April 21, 2007, and was sworn in on May 29, 2007. He died on May 5, 2010.
Turai, however, said that her late husband never liked politics and only became the President of the country by destiny.
She said, “His life ambition was to be a teacher, come home from school, sit with his family and crack jokes till another day. He never wanted politics or governance but as Allah willed, he joined politics and became President
“Although he was a President, at that time, his lifestyle hadn’t changed. He never borrowed expensive life and remained simple and an easygoing person.”
Turai, who also spoke on how much she has missed him said, “I think about Yar’Adua every day, anniversary or no anniversary. I think about him and miss him every single day.
“But I am happy on such anniversary days because the country talks about him, and people across the country come together to say good things about him and pray for him. That truly gladdens my heart.”
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