Tributes as Balarabe Musa passes on

THERE has been outpouring of tributes for the late Balarabe Musa, the first civilian governor of Kaduna State, from eminent Nigerians.

These are some of tributes for the politician and activist who exited the stage of life this morning at the ripe age of 85.

He was uncompromising, ‘we’ve lost a fine progressive’, says Tinubu

A NATIONAL Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, described Musa as a fine progressive.

In a post on his Twitter handle, Tinubu 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.”

We’ve lost a modern nationalist –CUPP

THE Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, lamented that Nigeria would have been a wonderful country if it has produced more leaders like Musa.

National Secretary, CUPP, High Chief Peter Ameh, while paying a glowing tribute to Alhaji Musa, said the former National Chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, had sacrificed everything, stood like an activist in trying to defend the posture and the sense of dignity of the common man.

Describing his passage as a great loss, very sad and painful, High Chief Ameh said Balarabe Musa was in fact the poster boy of democracy from 1999 until his death.

According to the opposition parties, “Dusk has befallen on our great nation at dawn. Alhaji Balarabe Musa was an elder statesman and the first civilian governor of Kaduna state.

“He was a Marxists and an activist till his death. A man of vigour and humility, always transparent and diligent in his dealings. A man of repute and reputable service to the people.

“He was at the forefront of the development and democracy of our beloved nation. His life is worthy of emulation and he is a symbol of good governance and leadership.

“A perfect candidate for a posthumous award and recognition by the nation. His death is indeed a great loss for the people of Kaduna state and Nigerians.

Farewell Alhaji Balarabe Musa. “The death of H.E. Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa has come as very as a rude shock to all Nigerians. We pray that our good Lord will grant him eternal rest.

“Alhaji Baarabe Musa a man who was well-acknowledged for the developmental strides he made as to the governor of old Kaduna State in the second republic especially in the area of human development. He was of champion of the emancipation of the downtrodden.

“In the present dispensation that started in 1999, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and another leading light of the opposition movement Chief Gani Fawehinmi were instrumental to the multi-party democracy that we practice presently.

“They fought up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria to make certain that the political space was liberalized and expanded to accommodate all shades of opinion in the Nigerian polity.

In fact, Balarabe Musa was the poster boy of democracy from 1999 until his death.

“In an irony of fate, his party PRP was deregistered by Professor Attahiru Jega the then INEC Chairman, and in his dogged nature, he fought all the way again to restore the party.

“Prof. Jega is now a staunch member of PRP, and PRP has now become the cornerstone party in the North as we march towards 2023.

“The life of Alhaji Musa should be emulated by all politicians and non-politicians alike. He lived his life for the masses, and all his struggles in life were for the betterment of the country.

“We pray that the Almighty Allah grant him eternal rest, and the family and the entire opposition movement the fortitude to bear the loss.

“He was a leading light and the remains that he is one politician and elder statesman that truly deserve to call an elder statesman, he stood against the mismanagement of public funds, his life was in humility and service to course of the Nigeria people.

“He serves the people diligently without course for enrichment, and if you have not meant him and sees you him, you will know that this is the kind of leader Nigeria should have had.

If we have the kind of leadership like Balarabe Musa Nigeria would have been a wonderful place to behold because he had sacrificed everything, stood like an activist in trying to defend the posture and the sense of dignity of the common man.”

“So it is important that he must be honoured by Kaduna State Government, honoured by the Federal Government so that we see it as a symbol of what Nigerian Politicians should be, and as a symbol of what leadership should be.

“His reputation is cast in stone for being a good, cautious, and humane leader. So his death today is something flag shouldn’t be flying on any flagpole over Nigeria for his contributions to the development of democracy, to his contribution to purity, to his contribution to puberty, so we must celebrate him.

“This is a great loss and it is indeed very sad and painful and H.E. Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa the former Governor of Kaduna state was a man of very good character, a man of the talakawas’, he is a lover of the poor, he lived among them and with the kind of name he made for himself and live the very best life all through till this day that he died.”

He fought for the under-privileged– Jonathan

FORMER  President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed sadness over the death of the Second Republic Governor of Kaduna State.

Jonathan in a condolence message to the government and people of the state, described Musa as a sincere politician who protected the interest of the people.

The former President noted that Musa was a highly principled politician who avoided convenient politics and relentlessly pursued his beliefs, even at the risk of suffering personal losses.

His words: “Alhaji Balarabe Musa was a sincere and committed patriot and statesman who held fast to people-oriented progressive ideals throughout his political life.

“As a democrat, Musa avoided convenient politics and was passionate and courageous about his views.

He was a highly principled man who relentlessly pursued his beliefs, even at the risk of suffering personal and career setbacks.

“He was a great man who deliberately avoided the companionship of the elite but found solace in the company of the ordinary people.

“The late sage was quite sincere in his beliefs and lived the courage of convictions. He fought for the less privileged and was deeply committed to causes that promoted public good for which he will be remembered as one of the finest politicians of our nation.”

Balarabe Musa’s Death: ‘Great loss for Nigeria, democracy, downtrodden,’ says Gov Gandu

GOVERNOR Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state has described the death of Musa, as a great loss to Nigeria, democracy, and the downtrodden.

“We received with shock and sadness, the news of the death of the former second republic Governor of the old Kaduna state, Malam Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, who passed away when Nigeria needed him the most” Ganduje stated.

Nigeria’s democracy, according to the governor “Was moulded by the likes of the former governor of Kaduna state, Malam Balarabe Musa.

“Not only Nigerian democracy, Africa’s transition to democracy in the last decades, benefited immensely from Balarabe Musa’s in-depth concern for the downtrodden ones.”

Governor Ganduje said, the late governor’s unparalleled concern for the welfare of the “Talakawas” (poor people), placed him above many politicians in the country, insisting that, “the indelible marks he left behind during his reign as a governor were enough reasons to explain his genuine love for the people.”

“On behalf of the government and good people of Kano state, I am extending our heartfelt condolence to his family, the government of Kaduna state, his friends, and well-wishers and pray that May Allah forgives all his mistakes and reward all his good deeds,” he stated.

While lamenting that, the death of the former governor was a great loss for Nigeria, democracy, and the downtrodden ones, he admonished politicians to always take a leaf from the late former governor, “he always believed the people first, people first and people first,” he said.

Kaduna is proud of Balarabe Musa— El-Rufai

GOVERNOR Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has said that his government is proud of the public service that Musa rendered to the state and its people.

A statement issued by Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye on Wednesday, said that Governor El Rufai has sent a condolence message to Alhaji Balarabe’s family, following the ex-governor’s death.

El Rufai noted that “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.’’ According to the governor, 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.’’

El Rufai pointed out that “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, Alh. 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.’’

The statement also paid  ‘’tribute to his life of unblemished public service, we pray Allah to forgive his shortcomings, grant him al-Jannar Firdaus and to comfort his family.”

Balarabe Musa was a forthright leader – IPAC

THE Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IPAC, said the death of the former Governor of old Kaduna State has 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, regretted that the nation has lost one of its most outstanding statesmen.

Nwosu, who is also the National Chairman of African Democratic Congress, ADC, however urged emerging leaders to leaders borrow from late Alhaji Musa’s characters of integrity, inclusion, and equity.

According to him, “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.”

Balarabe Musa exemplifies good principles in governance – Aremu

FOREMOST Labour leader, Comrade Issa Aremu  has expressed sadness over the death of Musa ,saying the late elder statesman stood for good principles in governance.

In a condolence message issued to journalists in Kaduna, Aremu said verily, from Allah we came and to him we return.

“Yours comradely just received this morning Wednesday November 11, the news of the death of Dr. Alh. Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, the first democratically elected Governor of Kaduna State.

Kashim Balarabe Musa, the eldest son and political heir  of the iconic conveyed  the inevitable news to me.

May Allah grant the late progressive statesman eternal grace and mercy than he was generously blessed in his 82 years on earth?  May Allah comfort his comradely family.”

Aremu, Vice President Industrial global union, recalled that he  had been privileged to engage with  Alhaji Balarabe for over forty years as a student and trade union activist.

“He was also my political mentor as a  budding progressive  politician. Alhaji Balarabe  in 2019 in Kaduna  was the first to endorse my Labour Party ( LP) candidature  for Kwara State governorship (in his words  “99%, but would have been 100 % if you are contesting under PRP platform””

“I bear posthumous witness that Nigeria, Africa and progressive world had lost an audacious principled selfless statesman.

He commendably stood for good principles in governance. He never  cheaply fell  for corruption. On the contrary, he stood for all that was good, integrity and service to the downtrodden, the talakawa!”

“His imprints as the first elected governor of Kaduna state are indelible; first together with his late counterpart, late Abubakar Rimi of Kano state, to declare May Day a public holiday in 1980 and implement the first minimum wage Hassan Sunmonu NLC leadership, unprecedented aggressive Industrialization which made Kaduna state an investment destination and investment in mass literacy that made Kaduna a center of learning.

He was labour friendly and great friend of my union: National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria ( NUTGTWN).

His house is ever wide open to all 24/7!”

According to him,”Alhaji Balarabe’s “weakness” is too much of principles NOT political opportunism.

He was a member of NEPU( PRP), and died a member, unlike present day butter fly politicians who moved from one party  to the other in search of cheap power and unearned money.

“Alhaji Balarabe Musa, was not allowed to form a cabinet by NPN dominated legislature because of his commitment to party principles.

Eventually he got impeached, after 18 months into his tenure, precisely in June, 1981.

The struggle of Alhaji Balarabe and many of his compatriots, has been along the same line; How to build an inclusive better Nigeria,  Africa and  progressive world.

Alh. Balarabe Musa undoubtedly epitomizes the best of values that you can get among the best of the past and contemporary African leaders, that include late Late Aminu Kano, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nelson Mandela, Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah and Sekou Tuore.”

The life and times of  Alhaji Balarabe shows that “The strength of leaders in a federation is as important as the constitutional structures”.

Balarabe’s leadership example during the second Republic showed that the strength of a state was a function of the strength of the vision, character and integrity of the governor.

PRP controlled only two states, namely Kaduna and Kano, but the two governors commendably set the pace in Industrialization, value addition, beneficiation and poverty alleviation such that the then Federal government followed.”

“Structures undoubtedly are important — Federal, State & Local Governments. But above all, the operators of the constitution are far more important. What is   missing in Nigeria today is also good operators, good leaders, like the late icon.

Principled leaders might not be fashionable but without committed leaders, Africa suffers avoidable perceptual underdevelopment.

The best Honour to the late statesman is for the ruling class to reinvent politics of principles to steer Nigeria from the path of impending barbarism to development and socialism. ”

“Balarabe indeed lost an office in 1981 through ideologically induced impeachment but nonetheless still won the globally acknowledged integrity and worthy name for prosperity,” he said