Nigerian History Series: Shehu Musa Yar’Adua

Shehu Musa Yar’Adua was born on 5 March 1943. He was a military officer turned politician who was the de facto vice president of Nigeria when Nigeria was under military dictatorship from 1967 to 1979. When Nigeria returned to civilian rule in the 80s, he was one of the most prominent politicians.

Early life

Shehu Musa was born in Katsina state into an influential family. His father was a teacher who later became the Minister for Lagos Affairs in the late 50s during Nigeria’s First Republic. He also held the title of Tafidan Katsina. His grandfather also held the title of Matawalle. His brother, Umaru Musa, who later became President of Nigeria, assumed the title as well.

Malama Binta, his grandmother, was a Fulani woman of the Sullubawa clan. She was also a princess of the Katsina Emirate.

Yar’Adua attended Katsina Middle School and then Katsina Provincial School (now Government College, Katsina) for his secondary education; at the provincial school. At the time, he was classmates with current Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari.

Persuaded by his father, Yar’Adua applied to the Nigerian Military College. He passed and was enlisted into the Nigerian Army. Subsequently, he was crowned as Tafidan Katsina by the then Emir of Katsina Muhammadu Kabir Usman.

Read also: Nigerian History Series – Shehu Shagari

Military career

In 1964, Yar’Adua was posted to the first infantry battalion of the Nigerian Army in Enugu. From 1964, he held various positions including platoon commander. During the civil war, he commanded the 6th infantry brigade under the leadership of Murtala Muhammed. In 1967, Yar’Adua was responsible for the capture of Onitsha after various successful attempts.

Yar’Adua was a key coup plotter in the coup that deposed General Yakubu Gowon as Head of State. After the coup success, he became Minister of Transport.

Political career

Yar’Adua spent a short time in jail for contravening a law banning certain persons from active politics. However, the law was revoked and Yar’Adua subsequently announced his presidential election. His campaign political structure covered the country; he had a national campaign directorate, and each state had its own campaign coordinator and ward mobilizers.

In November 1993, the interim government of Ernest Shonekan was overthrown and Sani Abacha became the new Head of State, dissolving the political parties.

Death

In March 1995, General Yar’Adua alongside Olusegun Obasonjo, Lawan Gwadabe and others were arrested on allegations of plotting a coup to overthrow the General Sani Abacha regime. He was sentenced to death by a military tribunal in 1995, after calling on the Nigerian military government of General Sani Abacha and his Provisional Ruling Council to go back to civilian rule.

The sentence was commuted to life in prison but he died in captivity on 8 December 1997. There’s a speculation that he was poisoned as he posed a threat to the then military government.