“All his life all he ever wanted was to be a teacher, and spend time with his family” – Yaradua’s wife, Turai says

Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua, the former first lady, has revealed that her late husband, former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, never had any interest in ruling Nigeria. Speaking with BBC Hausa, she stated that Yar’Adua had always wanted to be a teacher and spend time with his family, telling jokes until evening.

She said he had no desire for politics or governance, but as Allah would have it, he joined politics and eventually became the president. May 5 marked the 13th anniversary of Yar’Adua’s death, and Turai shared that she thinks about him every day and misses him dearly. However, she finds solace in the fact that on such anniversaries, the nation remembers and honors him, which brings her joy.

She said; “All his life, all he ever wanted was to be a teacher, come home from school, sit with his family, and crack jokes till dusk. He wanted no politics or governance but as Allah wills, he joined politics and became the president.”

“I think about Yar’Adua every day, and it’s the same for me, anniversary or no anniversary – I think about him and miss him every single day.

“But I am happy on such anniversary days because the nation talks about him, and people across the country come together to say good things about him and pray for him. That truly gladdens my heart”.

“A few minutes into my iftaar somewhere close, I was called back and I came back and met him gone. I still think I shouldn’t have gone for that iftaar. I should have stayed.
“But I thank the Almighty Allah for honouring me with Yar’Adua as a husband. It is the biggest privilege of my life and I am forever grateful to have spent a reasonable part of my life with this honourable man.
“Yar’Adua is a very simple man. He is humble and down to earth; he almost doesn’t care about comfort or luxury. Even as a governor, I remember he wore a particular wristwatch for months until the leather of the watch tore up. Yar’Adua is like that.

“He is a very good family man and he treats me and the children like royalties. I remember my first trip after his death. I got to my destination and kept staring at my phone but there was no call from him or anyone to ask how I landed. I cried no end that night,” she explained.