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The main auditorium of Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, was agog in the evening of Monday, December 8, 2025. It was the 28th anniversary of the passing of retired Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, and second-in-command to then Head of State, retired General Olusegun Obasanjo (1976-1979). Destiny thrusted the leadership of Nigeria on their shoulders after a bloody coup that took the life of their predecessor, Major – General Murtala Muhammed. Quite expectedly, both of them booked a golden place in Nigeria’s political history as the first military junta to hand over power to a democratically-elected government in Nigeria.
The theme of the event, “The union we hope to become” was a pointer to the direction of interactions of the day. Besides the emotion-laden speech by former vice president Atiku Abubakar, in his capacity as the Chairman, Board of Directors, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, the fireside review of the letter written by Yar’Adua to his son, Buhari, while serving his life imprisonment in Abakaliki Prison, etched a lasting impression in the minds of guests. An excerpt of the letter reads thus: “You see, Buhari, I am today in prison not because I want political power or to be president as most people think. I do what I do because I love you; because I don’t want my children to grow up in a country that has no future – a country that you cannot be proud of… I would not have achieved anything, if after I am gone, all I leave behind for you are empty houses and some bank accounts – for these are nothing – they can be acquired by any idiot.” What a striking thought!
Buhari noted that though he was still in school when the letter was written, the stuff of his late father’s character became more manifest after reading through it again and again with an eye of adulthood. The letter spoke volumes about late Yar’Adua’ s leadership philosophy; he was thinking of leaving a legacy that will make succeeding generations proud. He was not obsessed with power for material acquisition, as according to him, any idiot can amass wealth. Whether the present crop of political leaders will muster such altruistic conviction is a matter of conjecture.
In tracing the history of the edifice named after Yar’Adua, Atiku, who was introduced by the compère, Eugenia Abu, as an exemplar of mentee, noted that after visiting The Kings Centre, Atlanta, United States, he became fired up with the idea of replicating same in Nigeria for his mentor, Yar ‘Adua, who shaped his life more than his biological parents. And drawing extensively from Atiku’s speech, what made him tick was laid bare. As a soldier, statesman, family man, and servant-leader who led from the front, his courage, intellect, and deeply humane nature shaped many lives. Atiku described him as a brother-in-arms, partner in vision, and trusted confidant.
In politics, he noted that Yar’Adua’s vision was inclusive. His humility and modesty were groomed in discipline and crucible of duty. His perception of leadership was that of relay race that should not be corrupted by greed. For him, periodic elections do not necessarily build democracy, but through integrity, institutionalization, and “citizens care enough to act”, democracy thrives. His loyalty was first to Nigeria and hence, he built bridges across religious, tribal and regional divides. Atiku reiterated that Yar’Adua’s ultimate ambition was not to govern Nigeria, but to help Nigerians govern themselves. Thus, his dream was not like building castles in the air. He valued service above selfishness. More importantly, he was an avid reader of books.
As a phenomenal political strategist, Yar’Adua built a network of friends and acceptance across the country. He formed the People’s Front of Nigeria (PFN), a powerful grassroot movement that cut across ethnic and linguistic lines. It was not only Atiku that gave flowers to Yar’Adua. President Tinubu, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to Government of Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, saluted Yar’Adua’s sagacity and political dexterity which provided the bedrock for the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He was a frontrunner presidential aspirant in Babangida’s endless transition-to-civil rule programmes until he was banned alongside other select politicians by the military.
His political struggle did not wane. As Member of the 1994/1995 Constitutional Conference convened by then Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, he led other conferees and moved the motion for the military to hand over power within a year. This did not go down well with the military top brass and the motion was withdrawn after his arrest in March 1995. Amnesty International described Yar’Adua as a serious threat to Abacha’s junta. He was undaunted in the face of tyranny. Atiku noted that when he was sentenced to death by firing squad, his blood pressure unlike that of others remained normal. Even in death, he was unshaken. His spirit was uncowed.
Obasanjo’s foreword to his biography corroborated some of things spoken or known about him – his humility, incomparable simplicity, political astuteness, and compassion for the less privileged. In his era, transparency in public life was so remarkable that it was Obasanjo that guaranteed the bank loan given to him to build his first house in Kaduna when 1979 hand-over date was approaching. Obasanjo relived moments with him thus, “From the scanty communication we maintained during our incarceration, I can testify that he was neither downcast nor depressed. If anything, he was in high spirits. He had told me in October 1995 that he was prepared for the worst, and, in anticipation, he had tried to put his personal affairs in order.” Obasanjo recalled that he told him that he will not give up on Nigeria.
Be that as it may, Atiku reminded everybody that the union we hope to become begins with empathy in our hearts. He urged the youth to arise not in anger but in resolve to make Nigeria work. Indeed, Yar’Adua’s letter to his son is a great lesson in patriotism and power of conviction.
