Former Nigerian First Lady, Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua has said that Nigeria would have been a better country today, if her husband was still alive.
She said this while speaking during a memorial lecture organised by students of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University ,UMYU, Katsina.
Turai extolled the virtues of the late president when she said, “If Umaru were alive, the history of Nigeria would have been different because he had focus,” she said, in an emotion-laden voice.
According to her, even though the late president had health challenges while serving as president, “he gave his best for Nigeria” and “Umaru was a very honest man”.
She said, “the late Umaru always said, ‘I am here to serve, not to make money. I am here to leave a legacy for you, not property.”
Turai, who commended the organisers of the memorial lecture, said she was happy to be in their midst because the event was commemorating someone she loved dearly, adding that “each time there is an occasion in memory of Umaru, I must be there, no matter how small the organisers are”.
She decried the low turnout at the lecture, but said, “I will not blame them because they have other commitments… Umaru believed in commitments and gave his best in everything he did.”
The memorial lecture was organised as part of activities to mark the 2013 edition of UMYU’s Student Union Government Week.
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