Professor of Political Economy, Pat Utomi, has said Nigeria’s political and developmental path might have been significantly different if former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had survived his illness and completed his tenure in office.
Speaking during an interview on Csuite Cafe, Utomi described Yar’Adua as a committed patriot who genuinely sought Nigeria’s progress and development.
Yar’Adua, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2007 until his death on May 5, 2010, was succeeded by his vice president, Goodluck Jonathan.
Reflecting on his relationship with the late president, Utomi revealed that Yar’Adua once invited him to the Presidential Villa and encouraged him to join his administration as a minister.
However, he declined the offer, believing he could contribute more effectively by offering independent advice from outside government.
According to Utomi, Yar’Adua disagreed with that position, insisting that meaningful change could be achieved more effectively from within government.
“Nigeria would have been a different place if Yar’Adua had lived. He was truly a committed patriot who wanted the country to move forward,” Utomi said.
While acknowledging that the former president was not without faults, Utomi maintained that Yar’Adua’s intentions for Nigeria were sincere and focused on national development.