Report: D. M Longgul, JOS, PLATEAU STATE .

The funeral service for the late Mama Lydia Yilwatda, mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, on Saturday, served as a powerful demonstration of solidarity within the ruling party, drawing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and a high-powered delegation of the APC leadership to Jos.
The event at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) headquarters saw an overwhelming turnout of APC governors, ministers, and other national figures, which President Tinubu himself commended as a “testament to the chairman’s character and the legacy of his late mother.”

Tinubu Hails APC Chairman, Pledges Trust
In his tribute, President Tinubu described the late Mama Lydia (who passed at 83) as a “mother of the community, a mother of the state, and a humanitarian.” Turning to the chief mourner, Professor Yilwatda, the President offered words of immense praise and confidence.
“Mama has left behind what every parent prays for—a good son. Ambassador Goshwe is a man of character and intellect. We have seen his leadership and dedication, which is why we chose him to lead us as our party chairman,” President Tinubu stated. He also encouraged the APC Chairman with a mother’s blessing, saying, “The prayer of every mother is that her child succeeds—and you will.”
The presence of the President, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and members of the APC Governors’ Forum effectively cemented Professor Yilwatda’s standing within the party hierarchy.

Yilwatda’s Emotional Tribute and Political Pledge
In his heartfelt speech, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the chief mourner, honoured his mother as a “perfect portrait of the virtuous African woman” whose resilience was profound. He recounted how Mama Lydia, despite suffering from a health condition that required medication for 47 years, was a tireless worker, supporting her family by selling local items and quietly running the family’s finances.
Professor Yilwatda expressed deep gratitude to the visiting dignitaries, particularly President Tinubu, “for believing in me despite my youth and non-governor background.” He vowed to uphold the trust placed in him and, in a moment of political camaraderie, declared himself the President’s “son,” humorously asserting his loyalty to the party’s top leadership.

National Call for Unity
While celebrating the life of his mother, the funeral provided a strategic platform for President Tinubu to renew his call for national unity. He urged the clergy and all citizens to champion peace and religious harmony, declaring: “Hate is not an option for us. Love is what we must continue to preach—love for one another.”
Following the service, the President held a closed-door meeting with Northern Christian leaders to discuss peace and religious harmony, further reinforcing the APC administration’s commitment to bridge ethnic and religious divides across the country.

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APC Solidarity in Jos as Party Chairman Buries Mother