He entrenched rule of law’
As the nation marks the first anniversary of the death of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua today, prominent Nigerians have eulogised him.
Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Kabiru Gaya described Yar’Adua as a great leader, who despite his failing health, worked hard to entrench enduring legacy in the country.
He said: "He was a great leader, who thought and felt that he could bring about positive change, and he indeed brought about change. He spearheaded the electoral reforms, and with his inaugural speech, he created the atmosphere for free and fair election in the country.
"Yar’Adua considered the Southsouth as his primary constituency, by initiating the amnesty programme, which has led to the reduction in the restiveness in the Niger Delta region and led to the creation of job opportunities for the restive youths, especially the militants in the region. Amnesty is a blessing to Nigeria.
"Remember that he also tackled the Boko Haram uprising in the north and restored security in the country. I urged President Jonathan to follow his footsteps and actualize the dreams that Yar’Adua had for this country."
The Special Adviser to former President Shehu Shagari on National Assembly Matters, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai said it was unfortunate that the Seven-point Agenda, which was initiated by the Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration, was abandoned.
"What the nation is missing most is the abandonment of the Seven-point Agenda, a programme jointly initiated by the Yar’Adua/Jonathan ticket.
"I do hope that President Jonathan would use his second mandate to revisit the seven point agenda and implement it to the letter."
He paid glorying tributes to late President Yar’Adua for laying the foundation for the conduct of free, fair and credible election in the country.
"Yar’Adua initiated the electoral reforms and set up the Justice Uwais Committee. Out of the 90 recommendations, Yar’Adua forwarded 86 proposals to the National Assembly, and I think that formed the basis for credible election we just had."
He said Nigeria would have attained the 6,000 megawatts benchmark of electricity, if he had lived.
A former Civilian Governor of Katsina State Alhaji Lawal Kaita said Nigeria would not have been able to improve its electoral system were it not for the foundation laid by the late President.
Kaita added that the late President worked towards ensuring the restoration of peace in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, noting that Yar’Adua enshrined the principle of rule of law in the nation.
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