The Life and Death Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua - Brief Biography
Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Nigeria’s 13th Head of State and Mutawalli (custodian of the treasury) of the Katsina Emirate was born on August 16, 1951.
He was born into an aristocratic Fulani family in Katsina. His father was a former Minister for Lagos Affairs during the First Republic. He started his education at Rafukka Primary School in 1958, and moved to Dutsinma Boarding Primary School in 1962.
He attended the Government College, Keffi from 1965 until 1969. In 1971, he received a Higher School Certificate from Barewa College and later attended Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria from 1972 to 1975, where he obtained a BSc in Education and Chemistry. He then returned to the University in 1978 for his M.Sc Degree in Analytical Chemistry.
Yar'Adua's first employment was at Holy Child College in Lagos (1975–1976). He later served as a lecturer at the College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria, Kaduna State, between 1976 and 1979. In 1979, he began work as a lecturer at College of Arts and Science.
He later worked at Sambo Farms Ltd. Owned by his late brother, Maj. Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua (rtd), in Funtua, Katsina State as its pioneer General Manager between 1983 and 1989. He served as a Board Member, Katsina State Farmers' Supply Company between 1984 and 1985, Member Governing Council of Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology Zaria and Katsina Polytechnic between 1978 and 1983, Board Chairman of Katsina State Investment and Property Development Company (KIPDECO) between 1994 and 1996. Yar'Adua served as a Director of many companies, including Habib Nigeria Bank Ltd. 1995–1999; Lodigiani Nigeria Ltd. 1987–1999, Hamada Holdings, 1983–1999; and Madara Ltd. Vom, Jos, 1987–1999. He was Chairman, Nation House Press Ltd., Kaduna, from 1995 to 1999.
During the Second Republic (1979–1983), Yar'Adua was a member of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). During the Transition Programme of President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Yar'Adua was one of the foundation members of the Peoples Front, a political association under the leadership of his elder brother, Shehu Yar'Adua. That association later fused to form the Social Democratic Party. Yar'Adua was a member of the 1988 Constituent Assembly. He was a member of the party's national caucus and the SDP State Secretary in Katsina .
He contested the 1991 Governorship election, but lost to Saidu Barda, the candidate of the National Republican Convention. In 1999, he ran for the same position and won. He was re-elected in 2003. He was the first governor to publicly declare his assets.
In May 29,1999, He was elected as governor of Katsina State and served for eight years before he was elected as the President and Commander in-chief of Nigeria Army in April 21, 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
In 2007, Yar'Adua’s health started failing as he suffered from kidney complications . On 6 March 2007, he was flown to Germany for medical treatment
He again left Nigeria on 23 November 2009, and was reported to be receiving treatment for pericarditis in Saudi Arabia. On February 24, 2010, Yar'Adua returned to Abuja. His state of health was unclear, but there was speculation that he was on a life support machine.
He had not been seen in public since then until his death on 5th of May 2010 .
Yar'Adua had been married to Hajia Turai since 1975. They have seven children (5 daughters and 2 sons). Their daughters, Zainab is married to Kebbi State governor Alhaji Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari, Nafisat is married to Bauchi State governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda.
Yar'Adua was also married to Hauwa Umar Radda, his second wife from 1992 to 1997. They have two children.
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