There is no doubt that late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua by some consensus, remains one of the most celebrated leaders of Nigeria ever since the country returned to democracy in 1999. Despite his short term in office , Yar’Adua showed a genuine political will to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians and, so, left some legacies, making good-spirited Nigerians to call for, at least, a monument such as a library, to be named after him in order to immortalise the rare gem. In this feature, our correspondent, FRIDAY OBANDE takes us back to the good Legacies of the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua that our leaders today can emulate.
Yar’Adua served as Nigeria’s President from May 2007 until his death in May 2010, and is widely remembered for his humility, modesty, and commitment to due process and national reconciliation.
Recall that he was the first Nigerian leader to admit that the process that brought him to office was flawed, leading to the establishment of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reforms Committee which to address issues of electoral malfeasance, so as to sanitise the leadership of the nation. He was also the brain box that saw to the creation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, to quell constant agitation of the Niger Deltans, as well as the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
Also, one remarkable policy to be remembered under his administration was his ability to both detect and sack questionable members of his cabinet. He also implemented the first ever ‘Constitutional Amendment’ and the mapping out of geo-mapped areas into agricultural economic competencies.
Other achievements by the late President were the initiation of a plant for export of agricultural products through cargo airports and river ports, to mention but a few despite the fact that he inherited a crumbling economy, as a result of the disruption in crude oil production, and the almost severed ties between Nigeria and the international community at the time.
Thus, in the light of the erudite leader’s immense contributions to the country’s development, even with her defaults as at the time, Global Initiative For Leadership Success, GILS, recently held the 2nd President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Leadership Conference and Awards, themed, “Electoral Management Institution: Midwife of True Democracy and Prosperity’, in Abuja to immortalise the former leader, and also to reward good and patriotic leaders, who render meritorious services to the nation.
In his keynote address, Professor Jideofor Adibe threw some questions at the participants over several reforms to strengthen the Nigerian electoral process, as he proposed the removal of presidential powers in appointing the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, suggesting a mixed electoral system to promote inclusiveness, as panacea to solving the anomalies in elections of leaders across the country.
He also advocated gender balance, accessibility for persons with disabilities, and the creation of a Centre for Democratic Studies to promote civic education.
Adibe further called for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission and recommended that at least five judges should sit on election-related appeals at the Court of Appeal.
Prof. Biodun Ajibade, who spoke on the theme, “Leadership Virtues as Enhancers of Governance and Organisational Goals: President Yar’Adua’s Impact,” said research must translate into economic and developmental value.
He stressed that Yar’Adua embodied “justice and accountability in his line of duty as Nigeria’s second President after the return to democracy in 1999”.
Other speakers also made their contributions at the event. Barrister Bulus Atsen, who spoke on ‘Judiciary and Electoral Jurisprudence in Nigeria: Impact and Assessment’, drilled on various aspects of the country’s political trajectory and the legal implications of some activities of stakeholders in the polity, limiting the judicial process in the course of electoral litigations in Nigeria.
He then called for enhanced judicial transparency and accountability in electoral matters, equally urging sanctions against lawyers who file frivolous cases, recommending the creation of an electoral offences desk within INEC.
“We must also revisit the role of the judiciary in electoral disputes. The judiciary should not become a political actor.
“We need to reform tribunal appointments and strengthen electoral timelines.
“The rule of law is the basis for true democracy”, he stated. Contrary to some aberration, Atsen said that Nigeria was founded on a constitutional democracy, stressing the need for this to be implemented which he noted that arbitration of such, leads to failure of democracy in general.
“Electoral Jurisprudence refers to the interpretation of the constitution,” he also noted.
He made reference to the suit filed by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo against late Alhaji Shehu Shagari, saying it brought about unruliness within the polity. Atsen also mentioned the case of Justice Atanda who was promoted over his superior, Justice Udo Udoma for the needed job to be done by the then government. He again, made reference to the case of Justice Walter Onnogen who was removed from office as Chief Justice of the Federation for some vague reasons not clearly spelt out till date.
According to him, Nigeria practices a colonial judicial system which is constitutionally based. He went on to explain that the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC in its 2025 analysis, observed that the 2023 presidential Petition analysis showed that 196 cases were filed but then 894 cases were attended to. He continued that out of the mentioned cases, only 11.1 percent succeeded while 89.9 failed.
The legal luminary frowned at the role of corruption and its practices by most people in public offices, as he accused such individuals of siphoning funds and assets for their political and personal aggrandisement.
Earlier, Chairman of the GILS cum Yar’ Adua Foundation, Chief Sunnie Chukumele, eulogised the leadership prowess of the late visionary leader
“President Yar’Adua stood out as a man of principle. He publicly acknowledged the irregularities in the election that brought him to power and initiated reforms to correct them.
“One of his legacies is the late Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Report, which remains a relevant document for electoral transformation.
“Unfortunately, successive administrations have failed to implement its recommendations,” he said.
Chukumele also praised Yar’Adua for establishing the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, which according to him, helped to stabilise the oil-producing region and remains effective to this day.
He called on current leaders to pursue genuine reforms, especially in the electoral system, to consolidate democracy and national development.
The socio-political analyst proposed removing presidential powers in appointing the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and suggested a mixed electoral system to promote inclusiveness.
On his part, Mr John Elemi, while speaking on “The Consequences of Mismanagement of Time in National Systems,” urged national leaders to develop a clear vision for the country, noting that developed nations achieved progress through consistent national planning.
Highlights of the event were the awards given to distinguished leaders with meritorious records drawn from the executive, Navy, Air force, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Department of State Services, Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, amongst others.
