By Innocent Raphael
Nigeria’s former head of state,Yakubu Gowon has expressed his belief that Nigeria would have experienced improvements had late President Umaru Yar’Adua completed his term in office.
Yar’Adua, who assumed the presidency in 2007, passed away on May 5, 2010, after battling with ill health, reportedly receiving medical treatment for pericarditis in Saudi Arabia.
Gowon shared his sentiments during a leadership conference and awards ceremony organized by the Global Initiative For Leadership Success in Abuja on Monday.
He lauded Yar’Adua as a principled and honest leader, highlighting his commitment to transparency and integrity in governance.
“He did very well and he has to be remembered. He was so honest that he said the process that brought him to power was not right. And he set up a committee. But it was not followed by successive leaders,” the former head of state said.
“However, I believe that one day, we shall have a solution. He was honest and sincere in dealing with any problem, and he was incorruptible,” he said.
Reflecting on Yar’Adua’s tenure, Gowon commended the late president’s efforts, particularly in tackling corruption and implementing programs such as the amnesty initiative in the Niger Delta region.
He lamented the premature end of Yar’Adua’s presidency, expressing his belief that Nigeria would have seen significant progress if he had been allowed to complete his term.
In his address, Abdullahi Mamman, a retired general and chair of the Global Initiative For Leadership Success, echoed Gowon’s sentiments, attributing Nigeria’s governance challenges to the alleged failure to implement electoral reforms recommended during Yar’Adua’s administration.
Mamman emphasized the need for a robust and effective leadership recruitment system to address Nigeria’s governance shortcomings.
