THE SUN
Nigeria’s elder statesman, Edwin Clark, while acknowledging the condolences offered by genuine political leaders, over the passing of Hajia Dada Habi Yar’Adua, the matriarch of the Yar’Adua family, who died at the age of 102, has criticized what he termed the hypocrisy of some politicians, particularly Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Clark who again expressed his deep sorrow over the passing of the matriarch of the Yar’Adua family, described her as a woman of remarkable wisdom and compassion, who raised several distinguished figures, including former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Maj. Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Ardua and Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua.
The elder statesman recalled Abubakar’s visit to Hajia Dada during his 2007 campaign, emphasizing the respect shown to her as the mother of his political rival.
He urged Abubakar to reflect on that respect now that Hajia Dada has passed.
Clark said: “However, without being immodest, I hesitate to extend chronic Nigeria hypocrites as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is in the forefront. I must recognise and appreciate those genuine political leaders, who in sympathy meaningfully paid the family their condolences. However, while other political hypocrite use it in plotting to subdue the family of the dead politically, it is difficult for me to know where Atiku Abubakar stands in this matter.
“Let me remind Alhaji Atiku Abubakar during his campaign in 2007. He visited the mother of the President elect and his former boss and mentor in Katsina. This was something unusual for a Presidential candidate to pay a courtesy call to a mother of a rival Presidential candidate. He did this because of his long association with Yar’Adua family, and in honour of her late son, General Shehu Yar’Adua, and his rival candidate, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who did not object because of any embarrassment that it may cause. In fact he (Alhaji Atiku Abubakar), felt very free and relaxed when he visited the Yar’Adua’s family house and the Government house in Katsina.
“He may recall that after the victory of the President elect, Musa Yar’Adua he was directed to go to court, and I wrote an open letter to him on May 12, 2007, which was widely circulated to eschew all bitterness in the interest of his long standing relationship with the family.
“I particularly reminded him to remember the memory of his political mentor Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, to show respect to his mother whom he visited when campaigned.
“However, due to his inordinate of ambition to rule Nigeria at all cost, he did not heed to my advice and continue with court actions until he lost woefully.
“Today, some of us are still alive to witness that he is the same person leading the delegations to go and mourn the woman that he did not show respect for, while she was alive. As they say in my own part of Nigeria, “Wonders Shall Never End”.
