By Uzair Adam Imam
Hajiya Turai Yar`adua, the wife of a former Nigerian President, the late Umaru Musa Yar`adua, went on a mental trip lane as to when her husband was alive and how his good memories crossed her mind daily.
Turai, who spoke on the 13th memorial of the death of her husband, described how life has become difficult for her years after her husband’s demise to the world of our silent fathers.
She said that she still regrets her last moment with Yar`adua to the extent that she often quarrels with herself about why she left the place he was lying to break her fasting.
She stated, “I was fasting on that day. In fact, I had been fasting non-stop from when he took ill and even after he died, I did not stop. So when it was time for me to break my fast, he was lying down looking at me.
“I felt he did not want me to leave, so I told him I was going to break my fast. He then shook his head, and I left. I was later called, and I met him struggling with his breath. That moment still lingers in my mind. I even quarrelled with myself on why I left to break my fast, I should’ve stayed.”
She went on to say, “I think about him every day. Every day seems like any other day. The only difference is that today, people gathered to pray for and eulogise him, and I’m happy. I thank them.
“He was simple. Worldly things did not carry him away. For example, he could continuously use a wristwatch until the strap gets broken into two. Then, unless I see it, he would continue to use it like that,” she stated.
“My husband was not taking alcohol, would not go after women, and was not corrupt. He was a straightforward person who did not attach importance to worldly things. Even leadership, Allah destined he would be, but he wasn’t that ambitious about it”.
“Our marriage was full of happiness. People were saying they had never seen our kind of relationship. I was like a new bride every day. That was why he always returned home straight from the office.
“So, even if I travelled, he would be the first person I would call once I reached my destination. That was what I really missed. The first time I travelled, no one called me to say, ‘Turai, how was your trip?’ That was the first time I cried over his death,” she stated.