Jonathan eulogises Yar’Adua 12 years after death, describes him ‘selfless leader’

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has described his predecessor, late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, as a selfless leader and a peacemaker who governed the country with “sincerity and passion for the people”.

Jonathan said this in a tribute shared on his social media accounts on Thursday.

The tribute was titled, ‘President Yar’adua: 12 years after’.

Jonathan deputised Yar’Adua as Vice President between 2007 and 2010.

He became President on May 5, 2010, following the death of Yar’Adua and completed the latter’s tenure.

He won the 2011 presidential election, but lost the attempt to secure a second term in office in 2015, following the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s President.

However, Jonathan, in a tribute on Thursday, described his former boss as a soldier of truth, who was committed to justice, equity and other democratic virtues.

He said the late former President was a “servant leader and a good man”, who is hard to find.

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Jonathan said: “Twelve years ago, our nation lost a patriot, a selfless leader and a peacemaker who governed with sincerity and passion for the people. President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua is no longer with us today, but his strides in public life continue to testify for him and keep his memory alive.

“Like a good athlete, he ran with passion, kept the faith and finished the race. Today we can look back and say, as President he won laurels for us in terms of peace and other worthy causes he successfully pursued.

“He was a soldier of truth, committed to justice, equity and other democratic virtues. He was a servant leader and a good man; the type that is hard to find.

“He was my boss.

“President Yar’Adua, we remember you today and will continue to remember the good works that you did in our nation. Yours is a story of patriotism, a life well-lived in service to the people and humanity,” the former President wrote.