Abuja—Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday celebrated late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on the 12-year anniversary of his death.
In a post on his official Facebook page, Jonathan described the late Yar’Adua as a selfless leader and peacemaker whom he said ruled with passion for the people.
According to him, the late Nigerian president who died while in office was committed to peace, truth, justice, and equity, stating that his works while in office would continue to speak good of him and keep his memory alive.
“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.
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“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,” he said.
Jonathan was the vice president to the late Yar’Adua who was elected into office in April 2007 and who unceremoniously died on seat May 5, 2010, after a protracted illness.
In the aftermath, Jonathan who had since assumed the role of an Acting President in the absence of Yar’Adua from February 9-May 5 became the President of Nigeria after Yar’Adua’s death.
Jonathan would later go on to contest and win the 2011 presidential election and ruled for the stipulated term of four years before losing his bid to retain power in the 2015 general elections to the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
