12 years ago, Nigeria lost a gem, Umaru Musa Y’ardua who died in office after battling an illness
The former president of Nigeria who is popularly called the best President Nigeria has ever had by people was a one-time Governor of Katsina State.
Under the current constitution, Y’ardua was the second civilian President and the 13th head of state who led Nigeria for three years from 2007 to 2010 before his death on May 5, 2010.
Y’ardua took over the government after he won controversial polls after his predecessor, Olusegun Obansanjo’s under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He took office in 2007 and led for 3 years. He died at the age of 58 in Saudi Arabia and was flown back for burial. The known cause of death was pericarditis – inflammation of a membrane around the heart.
He was then succeeded by his vice-president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who completed Yar Adua’s term and won a substantive term in 2011.