Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar says he was inspired by the courage of conviction of the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

Atiku said this on Friday in a tribute marking the 20th memorial anniversary of the late General and politician, describing him as “democracy martyr”.

Highlights: Atiku spoke on how late General Yar’Adua inspired him with his extraordinary courage as well as organisational and mobilisation skills.

He described Shehu Yar’Adua as a fearless politician who was not ready to compromise his principles at the expense of the cause he was fighting.

He said that, although Yar’Adua was a military man, his passion for democracy was amazing and his courage extraordinary.

Atiku also said that Yar’Adua’s patriotism and commitment to Nigeria’s unity and peaceful coexistence was one of the remarkable virtues that attracted him to the General.

He said that during the 1994/95 National Constitutional Conference, General Yar’Adua was among the few voices that told General Sani Abacha not to stay longer than one year in office and prepare a transition programme within the shortest time frame.

The former Vice President said Yar’Adua’s position turned out to be inconsistent with General Abacha’s hidden agenda; and that from that moment, Yar’adua became a marked man.

He stated that the mentorship of Yar’Adua is enduring to his political life, especially as it relates to the unity of Nigeria and the promotion and defence of its territorial integrity.

Omoleye Omoruyi

Omoleye Omoruyi… an apprentice web/game developer, novelist, sensitive to happenings in the world. Meet him @Lord_rickie on Twitter/Instagram