JONATHAN PAYS HOMAGE TO LATE YAR’ADUA’S MOTHER

President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina on Friday paid homage to Hajia Aya Dada, the mother of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Jonathan, who was on a two-day state visit to Katsina State, arrived at the Yar’Aduas at 9.20 a.m. accompanied by Gov. Ibrahim Shema.

Jonathan and his entourage were received by Alhaji Mustapha, the younger brother of the late president, who led them to their mother.

Shema introduced the president to Aya Dada and Jonathan in humility, knelt down before her to receive motherly blessings. He also paid homage to the late president’s elder brother, Alhaji Yusuf Musa Yar’Adua, before leaving the compound.

The late President Yar’Adua ruled Nigeria from May 29, 2007 to May 5, 2011, during which Jonathan was Vice-President.

Meanwhile, Jonathan has said that only PDP can stabilise the politics of the country and urged Nigerians to vote for it in 2015.

Jonathan made the statement after inspecting a new secretariat complex of the party in Katsina. The president urged the party executives in other states to emulate the Katsina State executive by building permanent party secretariats. He noted that Katsina State was one of the few states that had built befitting permanent party secretariats.

The state Chairman of the party, Alhaji Rabiu Bakori, said the secretariat was conceived by Shema and built with the contributions and support of party members.

Bakori said the secretariat was inaugurated in January by the party National Chairman, Adamu Mu`azu. Shema, in a remark, said PDP in the state was united and formidable and would continue to support the Jonathan Administration.

The president also inspected a 250-bed orthopaedic hospital on Dutsin-Ma Road built by the state government. Jonathan also inspected the facilities at the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, and the Katsina Songhai project/Sobe Dam. (NAN)