Bashir Ahmad, an aide to the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari has opened up on why his principal failed to attend the funeral rites of Hajiya Dada, the mother of late former President, Umar Musa Yar’adua.

According to Ahmad, Buhari didn’t attend the burial because he is not currently in the country.

The former presidential aide also dismissed reports that Buhari intentionally failed to attend the burial. He described the late Hajiya Dada as the mother of Buhari’s good friend and classmate, the late General Shehu Musa Yar’adua.

He added that Buhari had sent his condolences to the family of the deceased.

“I have seen some social media posts suggesting that former President Muhammadu Buhari, while in Daura, refused to attend the Janaiza (funeral) of Hajiya Dada, the mother of his good friend and classmate, late General Shehu Musa Yar’adua and former President Umar Musa Yar’adua, in Katsina. The former President is currently not in the country, and this is the reason for his inability to attend the funeral. He has, however, sent his personal heartfelt condolences to the family,” Ahmad wrote on his X account on Wednesday.

Recall that Hajiya Dada died at the Katsina Teaching Hospital on Monday evening at the age of 102.

Hajiya Dada was the mother of Umaru Musa Yar’adua, who served as President of Nigeria from 2007 until his death in 2010. She was known for her strong character and her influence on her son’s life and career.

Dada was also the mother of late Shehu Musa Yar’adua and Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, the current Chairman, Senate Committee on Army.

Her death has resulted in an outpouring of condolences from across Nigeria, with many prominent figures and politicians paying tribute to her memory.