Turai, the widow of former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, has expressed regrets about leaving him, at his urging, to break her fast during his last moments.
She spoke in an interview aired by BBC Hausa on Saturday.
“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 quarreled with myself on why I left to break my fast, I should’ve stayed,” Turai said.
She also showered encomiums on him on the 13th anniversary of his death.
“He was simple. He was not carried away by worldly things. For example, he could be using a wristwatch continuously until the strap gets broken into two. Unless I see it, he would continue to use it like that,” Turai stated.
“My husband was not taking alcohol, he would not go after women and he was not corrupt. He was a very simple person who did not attach importance to worldly things. Even leadership, Allah destined he would be but he wasn’t that ambitious about it”.
Speaking on life without her husband, the former First Lady said: “I think about him everyday. Every day seems like any other day. The only difference is that today, people gathered to pray for him, and eulogize him and I’m happy. I thank them.”