Yar’Adua never wanted to be president – Wife

A former First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, has revealed that her late husband, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, never had the ambition of becoming Nigeria’s president.

The former First Lady revealed this in an interview with BBC Hausa to mark the 13th anniversary of her husband’s death.

Turai told BBC in a report published by Daily Trust: “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.”

On their private life with him and how much she misses her husband, Turai said: “I think about Yar’adua everyday, 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.”

Remembering the day Yar’Adua died, Turai said after he fell sick, she started fasting everyday, adding that on May 5, 2010 at iftaar time, she decided to go for prayer.

She said: “I held his hands and told him I was stepping out for iftaar and he nodded.

“A few minutes later, I was called back and I met him dead.

“I regretted that day.

“I blamed myself for going iftaar.

“I still think I should have stayed.

“But I thank the Almighty Allah for honouring me with Yar’adua as a husband.

“It is the biggest privilege of my life and I am forever grateful to have spent a reasonable part of my life with him.”

On the incoming administration, Turai urged the would-be First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to be patient and tolerant as the road ahead is tough and bumpy.

She said she is convinced Tinubu has what it takes to endure the challenges of the First Lady and help her husband, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, deliver on his mandate.

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