Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Saturday described the death of Hajiya Dada Yar’Adua, mother of late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, as a personal loss to him, stating that, the late Dada, technically made him who he is.

Jonathan stated this in Katsina when he paid a condolence visit to the Yar’adua family over the death of their matriarch.

The former president in an interview with reporters said he was on his way to Kigali, Rwanda, when he heard about the sad news adding that, as he returned to the country on Friday, he deemed it necessary to come to Katsina for the condolences.

“This woman technically made me who I am”. Her death is really touching to me. It was her son who brought me as his running mate and without this woman, you wouldn’t have known my name. So she was like my mother and this is like the death of my mother.

“It is a very sad moment for all of us. I travelled on Monday because I was going to Kigali. When I arrived at Adiss Ababa, our head of mission there told me about the sad news.

“On behalf of myself, my team, my community and my state, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Yar’Adua family and indeed to the good people of Katsina State.

“She was a mother that we lost, but Allah has blessed her. To live that long shows that Allah has accepted her.

“She was a good woman, she was a blessed woman, she brought children that contributed significantly to the development of our great nation,” Jonathan noted.

Late Dada, who was also the mother of late Shehu Musa Yar’adua and Senator Abdul Aziz Musa Yar’adua, the Senator representing Katsina Central Constituency and current Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, died in the evening hours of Monday September 2nd, 2024 after a brief illness at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina.

She died at the age of 102 years.

On Tuesday September 3rd, 2024, Dada was laid to rest amidst tears at the famous Danmarna Cemetery, where her late husband, Musa Yar’adua and her two deceased sons, Late Shehu Musa Yar’adua and late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua respectively.

Her funeral prayer led by Imam Aminu Yammawa, was held at about 1:30 pm in the state capital in line with Islamic rites as arranged by the family.

Dignitaries such as the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Elections, Mr Peter Obi, former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Senator representing Bauchi Central, Senator Abdul Ningi among other top ranking officials, politicians, academicians and business moguls attended the burial.