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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has paid heartfelt tribute to the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, describing him as a beacon of national conscience, civic responsibility, and unshakable integrity.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday during the launch of a new civic anthology titled Letters to the Union We Hope to Become, the President said, “Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua was not simply a soldier in uniform. He demonstrated conviction, political awareness, patriotism, and selflessness. In service and in sacrifice, he embodied that rare spirit that places Nigeria before self and comfort.”
The event at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre commemorated the 28th anniversary of the elder statesman’s passing. Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Tinubu highlighted that the gathering marked more than a remembrance — it was a reaffirmation of the ideals Yar’Adua championed.
“The late Yar’Adua fought for justice, unity, accountability, and principled leadership — values that form the very pillars of our Renewed Hope Agenda,” Tinubu declared, addressing an audience that included political leaders, civil society members, writers, and the Yar’Adua family with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar present.
Reflecting on Yar’Adua’s letters written from prison, the President highlighted their lasting significance: “From the solitude of prison, without the certainty of tomorrow, he wrote letters calling us to responsibility, stressing that Nigeria must be governed by institutions stronger than individuals. These convictions shape our efforts today to strengthen democratic institutions, uphold transparency, and build trust between government and citizens”, according to a statement issued by Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Secretary to Government of the Federation, Yomi Odunuga.
Tinubu praised the anthology as a sign of a new generation’s engagement in nation-building, underscoring that the themes echo his administration’s focus areas such as education, economic opportunity, security, youth empowerment, and public sector integrity. “Our pursuit of economic stabilization, energy reform, food security, digital innovation, and social justice must be anchored in the values we celebrate today,” he said.
He pointed to the government’s ongoing investments in infrastructure, youth creativity, and social programs aimed at nurturing “a union that is fairer, more secure, more prosperous, and governed by citizens’ trust.”
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Highlighting Yar’Adua’s political legacy, Tinubu noted, “He was a phenomenal political strategist who had the fear of God. With his nationwide acceptance, he remained in pole position as a presidential aspirant before the word ‘annulment’ entered Nigeria’s political lexicon.” He recalled Yar’Adua’s pivotal roles in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) as well as his influence prior to the annulment of the 1993 presidential election.
The President also underscored Yar’Adua’s devotion to national unity through faith, particularly his championing of the National Mosque’s construction in Abuja, now a national landmark.
Concluding his remarks, Tinubu called on Nigerians to view the anthology as “a mirror of national truth and a guide for the future envisioned under the Renewed Hope Agenda.” He urged continued commitment to Yar’Adua’s legacy: “Let us honour Shehu Musa Yar’Adua not only with remembrance, but with resolve. We must not only speak of hope; we must build the nation worthy of it. May the union we hope to become never lose its voice.”
