Major achievements of Late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua

- It is exactly six years former president Umaru Musa Yar'adua died in power

- Nigerians have been paying tribute to a man regarded as a statesman

- Yar'adua was the first university graduate to emerge as Nigeria's leader

Memories of Nigeria's former president, the Late Umaru Musa Yar'adua are flooding back today, May 5, as it is exactly 6 years ago he passed on while in power.

The Katsina-born university lecturer turned politician spent almost 3 years in Nigeria's seat of power, Aso Rock, as the leader of Africa's most populous nation.

Former president Goodluck Jonathan who was Yar'adua's deputy yesterday, May 4, took to his Facebook page to express regret at Yar’Adua’s death who he described as a servant leader. He also prayed for his soul to rest in paradise.

Jonathan wrote: “Six years ago I lost a dear friend and partner in democracy, peace and progress. President Umaru Musa Yar’adua was a servant leader and a stickler for the rule of law. He may be gone but he is never to be forgotten. I pray for his soul and for him to rest in al Jannah firdaus.”

READ ALSO: Read what Yar’Adua’s former wife said about him, his family

Nigerians from all walks of life are also paying tribute to their late president with some describing him as the best president Nigeria ever had.

Legit.ng lists the top five achievements of the late Yar'adua in his brief spell as Nigeria's leader.

Read below:

1. Yar'adua brought to end the militancy in the Niger Delta region when he invited the militants to Aso Rock and urged them to lay down their arms. He also kick-started the amnesty programme which re-absorbed the militants into the society and rehabilitated them ending the years of crisis in the region.

2. Yar'adua reversed the fraudulent sale of Nigeria's assets by the Olusegun Obasanjo government, which sold the assets to cronies of Obasanjo at give-away prices. The late Nigerian leader discarded political loyalty for the sake of the nation and reversed the sales which could have mortgaged Nigeria's future into the hands of a few.

3. Yar'adua pioneered the policy of returning unspent funds to the national treasury at the end of the fiscal year. He is also the first president in the history of Nigeria to declare his assets before assuming office. These policies and actions endeared him to majority of Nigerians.

4. Yar'adua courageously released the N10 billion Lagos state local government council funds withheld by the Obasanjo administration because of political differences with then then governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

5. Yar'adua's government initiated the dredging of the River Niger bank, Abuja metro line, Abuja-Kaduna rail and the Abuja-Kano rail.

Source: Legit.ng