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On Tuesday, Katsina honoured Hajia Dada Yar’Adua, the revered matriarch of the Yar’Adua family, whose influence spanned decades of Nigerian politics. The funeral, a tribute to a life of remarkable impact and dedication, was attended by top dignitaries. Her death marks the end of an era for a family that has profoundly shaped Nigeria’s political landscape, writes LAOLU AFOLABI
Katsina, on Tuesday, stood still for the “Mother of Nation,” the matriarch of the Yar’Adua family, a woman of great repute who has been a force to reckon with in the polity of the country since the 1960s, Hajia Dada Yar’Adua.
It was her funeral, which turned out to be a celebration of a life well lived.
Dignitaries, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa; Amb Babagana Kingibe, among others, paid their last respect at the Yar’Adua residence in Katsina.
Dada Yar’Adua died in Katsina on Monday night after a protracted illness at the age of 102. It was announced in a statement by one of her sons and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, through his media aide, Abdul Hassan.
Her death came 14 years after the passing of one of her sons and former Nigeria President, Umaru Yar’Adua, and 27 years after her eldest son, Shehu Yar’Adua, a military general, died.
Umaru died as President of Nigeria on May 5, 2010, at the age of 58 years, while Shehu, who was the de facto vice president of Nigeria, died on December 8, 1997, at the age of 54 years.
At every political dispensation, her house always turned into a Mecca of sorts, as politicians from different parties would visit to seek her counsel and endorsement. In the last general election, President Bola Tinubu, then candidate of the All Progressives Congress, visited her. The same applies to Atiku, the PDP presidential candidate, and Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, among others. She was a unifying figure for all. He was a mother of all.
Dada, as popularly called, hailed from a respected Fulani family with deep roots in Katsina State and her cultural background greatly influenced the Yar’Adua family, as she ensured her children received both religious and formal education.
She was born into a respected Fulani family in Katsina State. Her marriage to Musa Yar’Adua was a union of two influential families in Northern Nigeria. The marriage brought together two powerful lineages, further solidifying the Yar’Adua family’s status in Nigerian society.
Her husband, Musa Yar’Adua, a prominent figure in his own right, held various governmental positions during Nigeria’s early post-independence period. Musa Yar’Adua was a teacher who later became the Minister for Lagos Affairs from 1957 to 1966 during Nigeria’s First Republic under Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa. He held the chieftaincy title of Tafidan Katsina before he was appointed Mutawallin Katsina (keeper of the treasury), a title his son, Umaru, inherited until he died in 2010.
Dada Yar’Adua is prominent as the wife of an influential politician and mother of prominent key figures in Nigerian politics. To her honour, she raised a Nigerian President, a de facto vice president and Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, a two-term Katsina State governor (1999 – 2007), a minister, a senator and granddaughters as wives of governors.
Although much of her life was marked by her role as a matriarch in a prominent family, she maintained a relatively private life, with her influence being felt more through the values and upbringing she provided her children. She instilled in her children a sense of duty, humility, and service to others. These values were reflected in the public lives of both Umaru and Shehu.
Though Dada Yar’Adua did not hold any official public position, her legacy is deeply intertwined with the contributions of her sons to Nigeria’s history. Her commitment to raising children who were principled, educated, and dedicated to public service had a lasting impact on the nation. The values she imparted continue to be remembered in the context of the Yar’Adua family’s contributions to Nigeria’s political landscape.
Her life and influence extend beyond the mere upbringing of her sons. Her role as a mother in the Yar’Adua family reflects the broader socio-cultural dynamics of Northern Nigeria, where women, despite often being out of the public eye, play crucial roles in shaping the future of their communities and the country. She was known to be a woman of strong faith, discipline, and resilience. Despite her misfortunes of losing two of her prominent sons, she held her faith in God.
Though not as publicly recognised as her sons, Dada’s legacy is indelibly marked on the fabric of Nigerian history. The values she instilled in her children – integrity, humility, service, and a deep sense of responsibility – were the same values that guided their public service careers.
Her legacy is a reminder of the critical role of women in leadership development within families, particularly in traditional societies. Her life story emphasises the impact of maternal influence on the leadership qualities of children, particularly in cultures where the family unit is central to social organisation. Her contributions are a testament to the importance of strong family values and the quiet yet profound influence that mothers have in shaping not just families but also nations.
In remembering the Yar’Adua legacy, Dada’s role as a mother and educator is a vital part of the narrative, underscoring the importance of the values she nurtured in her children that continue to resonate in Nigeria’s political and social landscape.
When former President Olusegun Obasanjo was asked in an interview on Voice of America why he chose Umaru Yar’Adua as his successor in 2007, he said, “I selected Yar’Adua as the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2007 presidential candidate because of what I perceived as Yar’Adua’s intellectual capacity and personal integrity, and because Yar’Adua was a religious moderate.”
In another interview, Obasanjo said, “I set up a committee headed by Dr Olusegun Agagu, of blessed memory, to search for a successor. They considered many names and did an extensive assessment of all of them. They made their recommendation. Umaru was top on the list.
“Their biggest argument in his favour was that he had integrity and would not steal. The issues concerning his health were raised, and I gave his medical reports to an expert for an opinion. Umaru’s name was redacted so that the expert would not know who it was and why I was seeking his opinion.
“After assessing the reports, he said the patient appeared to have done a kidney transplant and if that was the case, there was nothing to worry about, and he would be as healthy as any other person. That was it.”
He also had the same to say of the eldest son of Dada, Shehu Yar’Adua, when he was asked why he preferred him for the presidency to Olu Falae in 1993.
“I went to the Chief (Lamidi Adedibu). Meeting him one on one for the first time and he received me warmly. I said to him, I know both Olu Falae and Shehu Yar’Adua very well as they both worked directly under me, Olu as Permanent Secretary and Shehu as my political number 2.
“They are both very good. But if we are looking at the entire Nigeria picture, it should be Shehu before Olu; if, however, it is purely a Yoruba issue, it should be Olu before Shehu.
“If my information is correct that you people are considering Nigeria and not just Yorubaland, then I will recommend Shehu. That led to Chief Adedibu changing his support in favour of Shehu Yar’Adua in 1992,” Obasanjo said.
Umaru Yar’Adua became the 13th President of Nigeria, serving from 2007 until he died in 2010. An academic before venturing into politics, he was known for his humility and dedication to the rule of law. His presidency was marked by efforts to reform the Nigerian political system and fight corruption. Many of his traits, such as his soft-spoken nature and focus on integrity, were attributed to the upbringing provided by his mother.
Shehu Yar’Adua served in Obasanjo’s military government from 1976 to 1979. He was known for his discipline, leadership, and dedication to national unity, qualities that were nurtured by his mother from a young age.
The role of the mother is often underappreciated in historical narratives, yet they are the custodians of culture and religion within the family. Dada’s deep Islamic faith and knowledge made her a guiding light in her household, ensuring that her children not only followed religious obligations but also internalised the principles of justice, fairness, and service to others.
Some of her surviving children are Abba Yar’Adua, a politician and businessman, Hajiya Binta Yar’Adu, a public figure and businesswoman, a former military officer and senator representing Katsina Central Senatorial District, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, among others.
A deserving eulogy
From far away China, Tinubu commiserated with the Yar’Adua family over the death of their matriarch, Hajia Dada.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, on Monday, Tinubu also extended his condolences to Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, the people of Katsina State, and the many lives the late matriarch touched.
“Hajiya Dada, mother of the late former President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, passed away on Monday at a venerable age.
“President Tinubu prays for the repose of the soul of the deceased and affirms that the beloved and remarkable matriarch of the Yar’Adua family will always be remembered for the support, peace, joy, and comfort she offered to many.
“The President mourns Hajiya Dada, yet extols her legacy of compassion, faith, honesty, and good fellowship,” the statement read.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari extended his condolences to the Yar’Adua family and the government and people of Katsina State, following the passing of Dada.
Buhari said the late Dada was the mother of his close friend and classmate, the late General Shehu Yar’Adua.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari expressed deep sorrow over the loss.
Reflecting on the life of the Yar’Adua matriarch, Buhari said, “The news of the passing of Dada is extremely sad. She was a mother who cared for her family as she did us, the friends of her children.”
He further praised her for living a life of virtue, stating, “Her virtuous life was an inspiration to us and all who came close to her; her righteousness and high values of life gave the country a set of successful and patriotic leaders. May Allah grant her Jannatul Firdaus.”
Atiku took to X and wrote, “I am saddened by the passing of Hajia Aya Dada Yar’Adua, mother of my late mentor, Tafida Shehu Yar’Adua, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, among others. In the absence of my beloved mother, I adopted Hajiya Dada as a mother. Indeed, she was a mother of multitudes, as her home was always a place of refuge where she welcomed everyone with love. She will be sorely missed.
“On behalf of the Atiku Abubakar family and team, I express my profound condolences to the Yar’Adua family, friends and associates over the loss of this gem of inestimable value. My condolences also go to the government and people of Katsina State. May her sins be forgiven and that she be granted Aljannah Firdausi. Ameen.”
Obi received the news with a heavy heart as he wrote, “Hajia Dada was a great woman who raised her children well for the exemplary leadership role they played in the political trajectory of our dear country. Her love for the nation was visibly manifested in her firm support for her beloved son, the late President Yar’Adua, in his patriotic desire to reposition the nation based on unity, peace and progress, and then deliver good governance. Hajia Dada will be remembered for her dedication to her religious faith.”
Radda, accompanied by key cabinet members, cut short his trip to Daura to pay a condolence visit to the Yar’Aduas on Monday evening. He praised the deceased for her exemplary life and invaluable contributions to the community, even as he highlighted her role as a pillar of strength for the Yar’Adua family and her positive influence on the state as a whole.
In a statement by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, said, “Dada Habi Yar’Adua, the beloved mother of my dear friend and our late President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was a true matriarch. Her warmth, grace, and compassion were boundless, extending to all who had the privilege of knowing her. My last encounter with her in Katsina State is a memory I will always treasure – filled with her kindness and wisdom. It was a reminder of the remarkable person she was.”
Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Yahaya, in a condolence message on behalf of the 19 northern governors, described the late Hajia Dada as a rare gem and a remarkable woman whose legacy was deeply etched in the history of Nigeria.
In the press release issued by Director-General, Press Affairs, Ismaila Uba Misilli, Yahaya said Dada’s life was a typical example of resilience, wisdom, and a nurturing spirit that greatly influenced those around her.
The NSGF chairman stated that Hajiya Dada was not only a mother to a president, but also a second-in-command, and a serving senator, as well as other distinguished personalities, who had played significant roles in shaping the future of Nigeria.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, in a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, prayed to Allah to forgive her shortcomings and admit her to Jannatul Firdausi.
He also urged Abdulaziz Yar’Adua and all those she left behind to take solace in the fact that she lived a righteous life dedicated to the service of Allah and humanity.
