A former Kaduna State Governor, Balarabe Musa, died on Wednesday morning in Kaduna at the age of 84.
One of his sons, Kallamu Balarabe-Musa, confirmed the death of the former National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at his residence in Kaduna.
He said that Musa will be buried by 4p.m. after funeral prayer at the Sultan Bello Mosque, Kaduna.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Musa was born on Aug. 21, 1936 in Kaya, Kaduna State.
He studied at Zaria Middle School from 1947 to 1952 and at the Institute of Administration, Zaria, 1952 to 1953.
Musa, who was an accounts clerk and a school teacher, held various managerial positions related to accountancy from 1960 to 1976, while studying at different colleges in London to gain additional qualifications.
He was elected governor of the old Kaduna State in 1979 on the platform of the PRP, a party founded by late Mallam Aminu Kano.
As governor, he was was prevented from constituting a cabinet by the state house of assembly, dominated by the opposition National Party of Nigeria (NPN) members.
Eventually the House impeached him in June 1981, making him the first Nigerian state governor ever to be impeached.
He was the PRP candidate for the presidency in the 2003 elections, and later Chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP).
On Aug. 31, 2010, Balarabe-Musa quit active politics due to health issues and announced his immediate resignation from chairmanship of the PRP.
NAN also reports that Musa, in a last interview he granted NAN on Oct. 4, said that the aspirations of Nigeria could be achieved if both the leadership and followers resolved to play their part in earnest nation building .
“Honestly, the country has not fared well at 60. It is very disappointing that this is where we are.
“But things can be better; we can still achieve the dreams of the founding fathers if we all play our role in nation building,”he said.
He urged leaders to always make the welfare and well-being of the people the focus of their policies and programmes.
The former governor stressed that political and economic restructuring of the country was key for progress
“We need to restructure the country politically and economically. We need to ensure that power actually resides with the people.
“The economic and political models we are currently operating only empower a few. Governments must be structured to impact positively on the masses,”he said.
A dogged, rare democrat – Wamakko
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko, has described the Second Republic Governor of old Kaduna State, the late Alhaji Balarabe Musa, as a dogged and rare democrat.
Wamakko, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Bashir Mani, said that Musa’s demise had left a wide vacuum too difficult to fill in the Nigerian political sphere.
Wamakko, who also described Musa as a core patriot and nationalist, said that he recorded tremendous achievements while he was the governor of the old Kaduna State between October 1979 and June 1981.
According to him, Musa’s demise is a colossal loss, not only to his immediate family and Kaduna State but also, to the country in general.
The for governor of Sokoto State prayed Allah to grant the deceased aljannat firdaus and his family, people and government of Kaduna State the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Buhari mourns
President Muhammadu Buhari has joined government and people of Kaduna State in mourning a former civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa.
The president, in a condolence message by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Wednesday said the deceased would be sorely missed by all Nigerians, who have diligently followed his antecedents as a voice for the voiceless.
President Buhari believed Musa 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 had remained steadfast in the call for good and inclusive governance.
According to him, as the former governor goes home, he left a bold footprint on Nigeria’s democracy.
He added that the former governor’s role in promoting good governance and development would always be remembered and appreciated by posterity.
Buhari prayed that the almighty God would grant his soul eternal rest, and comfort his family, friends and associates.
ACF mourns Yusuf Ladan, Balarabe Musa
The Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF) has expressed sadness over the death of two prominent Northern elders – former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and Alhaji Yusuf Ladan, a prominent broadcaster.
ACF National Publicity Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Yawe, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Kaduna.
“Balarabe Musa was an active member of the Northern Elements Progressively Union (NEPU).
“In the second republic he again teamed up with his old comrades in NEPU and their leader, Malam Aminu Kano to form the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), on whose ticket he was elected governor of Kaduna State.
“Sadly, he was impeached and removed before he could execute his programmes.
“As sad as that experience was, he devoted the rest of his life for the struggle to improve the life of the ordinary Nigerian,” Yawe said.
He said that Nigerians will remember Musa as the last man standing in the war against corruption, exploitation and dictatorship.
“We also wish to express our condolence to the family of Alhaji Yusuf Ladan, a prominent broadcaster, Dan Iyan Zauzzau and a member Board of Trustees of ACF,” Yawe said.
Ganduje mourns
Orji kalu mourns
Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Kalu, has described the death of ex governor of Kaduna and former Presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, as a huge loss to the nation.
Musa died on Wednesday at the age of 84.
Kalu, in a condolence message, admonished the family of the deceased to take solace in the fact that their late patriarch was a well-respected statesman, who placed the welfare and well-being of the people above selfish ambitions.
Extolling virtues of the late politician, Kalu acknowledged the prominent roles Musa played as former Chairman of Coalition of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), in enthroning and sustaining democracy in Nigeria.
He added that the former governor was a strong advocate of a just and fair society.
Kalu urged the political class to emulate the remarkable and worthy leadership qualities of the late politician.
According to him, political office holders should use their positions to advance the cause of the people as exemplified by the late statesman.
“As we mourn the demise of Alhaji Balarabe, I admonish the political class to demonstrate the exemplary and outstanding leadership attributes of the deceased in their daily endeavours.
“The late former Chairman of CNPP, was a progressive and political activist, with deep understanding and knowledge of Marxism.
“His personal attributes and character were anchored on his philosophy and political ideology of a fair and equitable society.
“The late statesman made invaluable contributions to Nigeria’s democracy and nation building, having served the country meritoriously in various capacities.
“His patriotic counsel on national issues, will be greatly missed, especially at a time like this.
“However, his contemporaries and the younger generation will continue to tap from his good works and legacies left behind.
“The late former governor lived a good and purposeful life dedicated to the service of humanity,” he said.
Kalu, while praying to Allah to forgive the late statesman’s shortcomings and grant him the highest paradise, conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Kaduna state over the irreplaceable loss.
El Rufai mourns
Gov. Nasir El-Rufai has expressed shock over the death of Alhaji Balarabe Musa, the second republic governor of old Kaduna State.
Mr Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the governor said this in a statement on Wednesday in Kaduna.
“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.
“He made notable contributions towards industrialising 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.
“In spite of the setback of his unwarranted impeachment from the office of the 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 said.
El Rufai prayed Allah to forgive his shortcomings, grant him Al-Jannar Firdaus and to comfort his family.
Progressive voice in northern Nigeria —Afenifere
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere on Wednesday described the late former Gov. Balarabe Musa of Kaduna State as a progressive voice in northern Nigeria.
The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos, in a reaction to the death of the former Kaduna governor.
Musa, who died on Wednesday at 84 years, was elected Second Republic Governor of Kaduna State in 1979 but was on June 23, 1981 controversially impeached and removed from office.
Reacting to his death, Odumakin said that Balarabe stood for something and pursued it to his death. “Balarabe stood for something and it was not just about making money, and a lot of other things we see politicians doing today. After he was impeached as the governor of Kaduna State, he has been contributing his own quota to the cause of the masses. Now death has come.
“Today he has gone and when we talk about Balarabe Musa, people know what he stood for. He had an ideal which he pursued’’, Odumakin said.
He added: “It is not about making money that other people will take over when we die. What matters is the legacies we stood for while we were alive.
“He was a progressive voice within the northern establishment. We have seen him throughout his life as a voice on the side of progress and that was what stood him out.”
Odumakin prayed to God for the repose of the soul of the deceased and comfort for his family.
He was the leader of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), a coalition of opposition parties in the Fourth Republic. Before his death, he was also the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
He called a spade its proper name — Mark
Former President of the Senate, David Mark, has described the demise of second republic governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, as a big blow to the struggle for the emancipation of the oppressed in the country.
Mark, in a statement signed by his Media aide, Paul Mumeh, said 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,” Mark said.
The former Senate president said Nigeria had lost an honest and patriotic statesman.
He said that Balarabe Musa, until his death, remained one of the best and fertile minds amongst the political class.
Mark said that the late politician departed the stage when his wealth of experience and knowledge was needed to navigate through the murky terrain of the Nigerian politics.
He said that history would be kind to Balarabe Musa,as he left fond memories and positive footprints in the sand of time.
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.
Lawan mourns
The President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, has condoled the family of former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa who died on Wednesday.
Lawan also commiserated with the government and people of Kaduna State over the incident.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja, Lawan described the deceased as a principled political leader who consistently championed the cause of the masses.
Lawan said the former governor shunned material benefits and remained constant on the path of his convictions all through his illustrious political career.
The Senate President said Balarabe Musa’s life personified the struggle for the underdogs, adding that his legacy is indelible and will always be cherished.
He, therefore, prayed for the repose of his gentle soul in Aljannah.
Okei-Odumakin mourns
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise and Centre for Change, has commiserated with the family of late former governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, describing the death as a great loss.
Okei-Odumakin, in a condolence massage on Wednesday in Lagos described the deceased as a born fighter and humanist of the highest order.
She said that the late Musa was a defender and friend of the ‘talakawa.’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late former governor died in the early hours of Wednesday at the age of 84.
The deceased was the leader of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in the 4th Republic.
He was elected governor of Kaduna State during Nigeria’s Second Republic, holding office from October 1979 until he was impeached on June 23, 1981.
“Words fail me to react to the passage of Alhaji Balarabe Musa, his voice will be sorely missed in Nigeria’s aridity of principled voices.
“His dogged commitment to the cause of the downtrodden dates back to the politics of the Second Republic,” she said
Okei-Odumakin said that the late Musa was an apostle of the Aminu Kano school of politics, adding that he was one of two PRP governors that toppled the applecart of the conservative North.
She said that his consistent and undaunted activism on the side of the voiceless neither lost steam nor was it reduced in its vibrancy.
“And that was how Balarabe lived his life until he breathed his last.
“Surely, he has left indelible imprint on the sands of time.
“The vacuum his exit has created will thus be difficult to fill in the ranks of progressive activism not only in the North but also throughout the whole country.
Okei-Odumakin extended her condolences to the progressives family nationwide.
She prayed that the good Lord to grant each and everyone the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
