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Elder statesman and former Governor of Kaduna state, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, is dead.
Musa’s death was announced by his political associate and former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani.
“Alhaji Balarabe Musa has died.May Allah forgive his souls and grant him Aljanna firdausi.Amin,” Sani wrote on Twitter.
Balarabe Musa, 84, was elected governor of Kaduna state in 1979.
Elected on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), he was controversially impeached in June 23, 1981 by a National Party of Nigeria (NPN)-dominated legislature.
The corpse of the elder statesman was buried in Kaduna, with sympathisers comprising mostly the poor masses, in attendance at the funeral rites done in accordance with Islamic rites at the Sultan Bello Mosque.
Musa, who was the first executive governor of the state, died at the age of 84 years and buried at the Ungwan Sarki Cemetery in Kaduna North local government area of the state at about 5:00 pm.
My father’s life -Son
Speaking on the demise of his father, Kazeem, one of his children, said the elder statesman passed on in the presence of family members.
“I am happy that my father, who I shared his political philosophy with, died in the presence of his family members today. He left behind a legacy of African records. I am very delighted to have a father like him (Balarabe Musa),” said Kazeem who also added that his father died of a heart-related complication he battled with for years.
He said his father “will be remembered as a lover of the poor and I will remember him for the training he gave us as his children as well as the mentorship that I received from him. He was not only a father to me but a mentor. I like his political ideology. He was straight forward and honest.”
Buhari, El-Rufai, Lawan mourn
Mourning the former governor’s death, President Muhammadu Buhari said the deceased’s passing would be sorely missed by all Nigerians, who diligently followed his antecedents as a voice for the voiceless.
The president said he believes that the deceased reflected the passion and vigour that heralded Nigeria’s independence, which steadily translated into activism for return to democracy at the height of military interregnum and has remained steadfast in the call for good and inclusive governance.
He said the deceased left a bold footprint on Nigeria’s democracy, and his role in promoting good governance and development would always be remembered and appreciated by posterity.
He prayed that the almighty God would grant his soul eternal rest, and comfort his family, friends and associates.
In a similar message, Kaduna state Governor Nasir el-Rufai said his government was proud of the public service Musa bequeathed to the state and its people.
A statement issued by Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Governor, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye said Governor El-Rufai had sent a condolence message to the deceased’s family.
El-Rufai said: “Alhaji Balarabe Musa will be remembered as a progressive politician who tried in his time as governor to expand the horizons of opportunity for ordinary people. The deceased made notable contributions to industrializing the state.
‘’As a leader, he demonstrated at the ballot box, the capacity of a political party devoted to the protection of the interest of ordinary people to acquire power democratically.
“As a private citizen, he projected the qualities of principled politics, decency, integrity, consistency and commitment to improving the lives of our ‘talakawa’ in Kaduna state and Nigeria.
“Despite the setback of his unwarranted impeachment from the office of governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa remained steadfast to his principles and spoke his mind often, helping to project a radical voice in public discourse in defense of democracy, and to advance social justice.’’
He also paid tribute to Musa’s life of unblemished public service, while praying to Allah to forgive his shortcomings, grant him al-Jannat Firdaus and comfort his family.
Similarly, Senate President Ahmad Lawan has condoled with the family of the former governor.
In a statement issued in Abuja Wednesday, Lawan described the former governor as a principled political leader who throughout his life, consistently championed the cause of the masses.
He said the former governor shunned material benefits and remained constant on the path of his convictions all through his long and illustrious political career, adding that “his life personified the struggle for the underdogs and his legacy is indelible and will always be cherished.”
Lawan also prayed for the sweet repose of his gentle soul in Aljannah.
Tinubu, IPAC, Mark mourn
Also in a condolence message, National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos state Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described Musa as very uncompromising.
In a post on his Twitter handle, @AsiwajuTinubu, he wrote: “The first civilian governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa was a statesman and principled progressive politician. He was very uncompromising.
“He stood unwaveringly by his convictions even at the height of his impeachment by the NPN controlled state Assembly in 1981.
“He would be sorely missed by the entire country particularly the Talakawas for his consistent struggle and commitment to social and economic change. I commiserate with his immediate and extended family.
“I mourn with the people and government of Kaduna state. I mourn with the country for we have all lost a fine progressive. May Almighty Allah grant him Aljanna Fridaus. Amin.”
In another condolence message, the Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, (IPAC) said Musa’s death had left a big vacuum in the arena of the nation’s affairs.
Acting National President of IPAC, Chief Ralphs Nwosu, who made the remarks via a condolence message issued in Abuja Wednesday, regretted the nation had lost one of its most outstanding statesmen.
Nwosu, who is also the National Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC), however urged emerging leaders to borrow from the late Musa’s characters of integrity, inclusion, and equity.
He said: “Balarabe Musa was a Nigeria original, through and true. A patriot and forthright leader takes a bow. His passage leaves a big void especially at this time.
“The nation will miss his leadership, wise counsel and steadfastness. I pray that the current and emerging leaders borrow from his characters of integrity, inclusion, and equity in resolving today’s and future challenges facing the country.
“The nation has lost one of its most outstanding statesmen. May Almighty God rest his soul and grant his family, people of Kaduna state and party PRP the fortitude to bear this difficult loss.”
Also, former SenatePresident David Mark has described the demise of the second republic governor as a big blow to the struggle for the emancipation of the oppressed in the country.
Senator Mark noted that the late politician was an uncommon activist and defender of the ordinary man.
“Balarabe Musa was a great patriot. He was an advocate for peace and justice. He was a voice for the voiceless.
“He was bluntly frank, courageous and steadfast. He never shied away from fighting for justice. He called a spade its proper name,” he said.
The former lawmaker said Nigeria had lost an honest and patriotic statesman, pointing out that until his death; he remained one of the best and fertile minds amongst the political class.
Mark noted that history would be kind to Musa as he left fond memories and positive footprints in the sand of time.
Senator Mark who extended his condolences to the immediate family, government and people of Kaduna state, also prayed that the Almighty God grants the deceased eternal rest.
ACF, Lamido, others
In a similar message, the pan northern socio-cultural organisation-Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) – Wednesday expressed sadness on the death of the former governor of the old Kaduna state, describing him as a big loss to Nigeria.
Speaking through its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Emmanuel Yawe, ACF said Nigerian masses had lost their defender, their voice and somebody that stood and fought for them since the colonial days.
“ACF is sad over the death of Alhaji Balarabe Musa. He was a big loss to Nigeria. Nigeria has lost somebody who always steered the country on to the right path whenever the country is going wrong.
“He was a great man, a great Nigerian who fought against corruption and bad governance from the colonial times. He was a member of NEPU (Northern Elements Progressive Union) with Malam Aminu Kano and together they fought for the liberation of the talakawas, the poor masses, till his death he kept on fighting.
“He has always stood on the side of the common man, the poor masses. He was a big loss to the talakawas. The masses of Nigeria have lost a voice, they have lost their defender and they are going to miss him,” the ACF said.
It said: “Alhaji Balarabe Musa was always available and accessible to everybody irrespective of your status. Nigeria will miss him.”
Meanwhile, the immediate past Governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido has said Musa, a member of the defunct Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) and the PRP, lived a fulfilled life that successfully shaped the political landscape in the north.
NEPU was the first political party in Northern Nigeria that was. founded in Kano August 8, 1950.
Lamido who stated this in Dutse said the political space had been cleared of all obstacles for children of the masses to contest political offices.
He further explained that in the past only the sons of the traditional rulers were eligible for electioneering positions in the north under the then northern oligarchy.
He said the late Malam Aminu Kano worked hard to liberate the ordinary citizens in northern Nigeria, adding that Aminu Kano suffered all forms of humiliations during his early days in politics.
Similarly, former Governor of Gombe state, Senator Danjuma Goje (APC Gombe Central), joined other Nigerians to mourn the death of Alhaji Musa.
In a personally signed condolence message, Goje described the death of Balarabe Musa “as a deep loss of a great patriot and a real voice of truth, who spent his life contributing his quota towards the development of Nigeria.
He said Musa, who was an advocate of human rights and foremost politician, would surely be missed.
His demise, he added, would create a huge vacuum hardly to be filled by any statesman.
“I sympathise with the family the people of Kaduna state and the entire nation over the death of this fearless statesman,
”I pray to Allah to accept all his righteous deeds and forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah Firdaus Amin”, he said.
In a related message, Benue state Governor Samule Ortom, also commiserated with the family of the deceased and government of Kaduna state over Musa’s demise.
In a statement issued Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary Terver Akase, the governor described the deceased as a true patriot who made his views known on national issues in an unbiased manner and contributed in several other ways to building Nigeria.
He stated that Nigeria would miss Alhaji Musa who, for many years was a voice of the masses, and usually made calls for good governance and improved standard of living for Nigerians.
Governor Ortom prayed that God grants the deceased eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
Also, Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has described the passing away of the elder statesman as a huge shock and surprise.
Aregbesola in a tribute he personally signed, Wednesday in Abuja, titled: “Mallam Balarabe Musa: The end of an era,” said the passage of Balarabe Musa caught him unaware, adding that, a leader and pillar in the struggle to build a just, humane and progressive society in Nigeria has returned to his Maker.
“Mallam Musa was a patriot, democrat, socialist, consummate defender of the poor, advocate of social and economic justice, promoter of human rights, liberty and dignity and, above all, a very good man. His passage at 84 is the end of an era,” he said.
“He will be well represented in the pantheons of the heroes of democracy for his brave and uncompromising stand on military disengagement and return of civil democratic rule, all through the period of military rule. This was at great personal risk and discomfort,” Aregbesola stressed.
While commiserating with the deceased family, the people and Government of Kaduna State and all Nigerians on the irreparable loss, Ogbeni Aregbesola prayed that Allah SWT will forgive his shortcomings and grant him a beautiful abode in Aljannah.
His profile
Born August 21, 1936, Alhaji Musa was the first civilian governor of Kaduna state in Nigeria’s Second Republic before he was impeached June 23, 1981.
He was considered a progressive and worked with people of like minds to mobilise against the military junta of late Sani Abacha.
The elder statesman was also leader of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), a coalition of opposition parties, in the Fourth Republic, and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
