Abdulaziz Musa Yar'Adua (born 4 August 1964) is a Nigerian politician and retired military officer who is the senator representing Katsina Central senatorial district since 2023.[1][2][3] He is a brother of former Nigerian PresidentUmaru Musa Yar'Adua and former de facto vice president General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua.[4]
A retired Nigerian Armylieutenant colonel, he served in the army from 1981 till his voluntary retirement in 2010, few months after the death of his elder brother.
Early life and education
Abdulaziz Musa Yar'Adua was born on 4 August 1964 in Katsina, to the family of then minister for Lagos Affairs, Musa Yar'Adua. He had his primary education at the Musa Yar'Adua Quranic Model Primary School, Katsina from 1970 to 1976, and his secondary education in the Nigerian Military School, Zaria from 1976 to 1981. He then attended the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria from 1981 to 1984 where he received a bachelor's degree in physics, and then the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he received a bachelor's degree in science and technology in 1987. He then proceeded to the Rochester Institute of Technology, Henrietta, New York in 1991 where he bagged a master's degree in electrical engineering in 1993.[4][5]
Military career
Yar'Adua started his military career as a soldier after graduating from the Nigerian Military School in 1981, he rose to the rank of Lance Corporal. He was granted Short Service Combatant Commission to the rank of second lieutenant on 22 September 1990. He later converted to Regular Combatant Commission on 16 March 1998.
Yar'Adua served in the Nigerian Army Signals Corps. He attended several civil and military courses, seminars and workshops, some of which include Signals Young Officers Course, Infantry Young Officers Course, Junior Staff Course Harris Corporation Technical Training on RF HF and VHF Radios, Training on Satellite Communications, Management Training Course, Spectrum Management Training, Peace Keeping, Force Protection and Antiterrorism Training. He also held several military appointments ranging from staff, instruction to command positions. His last appointment was as Assistant Director of Records, Army Headquarters Abuja. He retired from service as a lieutenant colonel on 30 September 2010, after 29 years of military service.[6]
On 29 May 2022, Yar'Adua won the APC primary election for the Katsina Central Senatorial District, over former Senator Umaru Ibrahim Kurfi and incumbent Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya. He had previously lost the primary election in 2015 to Kurfi, and in 2019 to Barkiya. He scored 310 votes while Kurfi got 197 votes and Barkiya got 70 votes.[7]
Yar'Adua was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal, Meritorious Service Star, Forces Service Star and the Nigerian Army Sport Personnel Medal[8]
Traditional titles
Yar'adua holds the chieftaincy title of "Mutawallen Katsina", which was conferred upon him by the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman in November 2020. He inherited the title from his elder brother Umaru Musa Yar'Adua who held the title till his death in 2010. The title was previously held by their father Musa Yar'Adua and grandfather Malam Umaru. He also holds the chieftaincy title of "Akijiogo I" of Ezeokwe Kingdom, Ibagwa Nike, Enugu State.[9][6]
