Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua, former First Lady, and wife of the late president, Umaru Yar’Adua, has revealed that her late husband never liked or planned to be in politics.
The former First Lady explained that her late husband, who ruled as the president of this country between 2007 and 2010, only became the President by destiny.
Hajiya Turai, said this on Saturday while speaking on the 13th anniversary of her husband’s death, on BBC Hausa Service.
Talking about her late husband’s lifetime ambition, She said, “His life ambition was to be a teacher, come home from school, sit with his family and crack jokes till another day.
“He never wanted politics or governance but as Allah willed, he joined politics and became President
“Although he was a President, at that time, his lifestyle hadn’t changed. He never borrowed expensive life and remained simple and an easygoing person.”
Speaking on how much she missed the late president, she said, “I think about Yar’Adua everyday, anniversary or no anniversary. I think about him and miss him every single day.
“But I am happy on such anniversary days because the country 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.”
Recounting the last day experience with her husband, Hajiya Turai, who expressed sadness for not being with him at the final moment, said, “I held his hands and told him I was stepping out for iftar and he nodded. A few minutes later, I was called back and I met him dead.
“I regretted that day. I blamed myself for going to iftar. I still think I should have stayed.
However, the former First Lady expressed satisfaction with being Yar’Adua’s wife.
“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 him,” she said.
