Buhari, Saraki, Dogara, El-rufai, Ganduje, Others Mourn Balarabe Musa

[Edoman]

Former Governor of Kaduna State , Alh. Balarabe Musa passed on today at the age of 84 after a brief illness.

PRESIDENT BUHARI MOURNS FORMER GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE, BALARABE MUSA

President Muhammadu Buhari joins government and people of Kaduna State in mourning a former civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, whose passing will be sorely missed by all Nigerians, who have diligently followed his antecedents as a voice for the voiceless.

President Buhari believes Alhaji 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 has remained steadfast in the call for good and inclusive governance.

As the former governor goes home, the President affirms that he left a bold footprint on Nigeria’s democracy, and his role in promoting good governance and development will always be remembered and appreciated by posterity.

President Buhari prays that the almighty God will grant his soul eternal rest, and comfort his family, friends and associates.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 11, 2020

Garba Shehu

The passing of H.E. Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, a renowned statesman who fought for our return to democracy and a former Governor of Kaduna State is a great loss to the nation. I send my heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Kaduna State.

He will be dearly missed.

Abubakar Bukola Saraki

Alh Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa was a Distinguished elder statesman, an embodiment of integrity and a champion of progressive politics. His demise is a huge loss to #Nigeria. My heartfelt condolences to his family, Government & People of #Kaduna state & Nigerians at large.

Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara

KADUNA UPDATE: KDSG regrets to announce the death of Alhaji Balarabe Musa, the first elected governor of Kaduna State.

Malam Nasir @elrufai said that Alh. Musa will be remembered as a progressive politician who tried to expand the horizons of opportunity for ordinary people.

Alh. Balarabe Musa 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, 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.

GovKaduna

I wish to commiserate with @GovKaduna and the people of Kaduna State over the demise Balarabe Musa, former Governor of the state. May Allah forgive all his shortcomings and accept him into Aljanna Firdausi.

Abubakar Sani Bello

Ganduje Mourns Exit Of Balarabe Musa
Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Wednesday described the demise of a former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa as a loss to Nigeria, democracy, and the downtrodden.

Balarabe Musa, 84 who died in Kaduna on Wednesday morning was elected as governor of Kaduna state on the platform of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party in 1979.

A press statement by Abba Anwar, the Chief press Secretary to Ganduje in a condolence message that was made available to INDEPENDENT in Kano said the second Republic governor died died at a time Nigeria needed him most.

Anwar statement reads”We received with all shocks and unbelieving sadness, 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.”

Words of the Kano state governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as he received the sad story of the death of the former governor of the old Kaduna state, Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa.

Nigerian 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 indepth 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, government of Kaduna state, his friends, and well wishers and pray that May Allah forgive 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 that people first people first and people first,” he said.

SOURCE

MALLAM BALARABE MUSA: THE END OF AN ERA
The news of the passage of Mallam Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa caught me totally unaware. I was with the son, Kassim, until 20.00 hrs of yesterday, November 10, 2020. There was no hint of sickness or death.

It is therefore a huge shock and surprise that our leader and pillar in the struggle to build a just, humane and progressive society in Nigeria has returned to his maker; never again to be part of those patriotic efforts to make Nigeria very great and leader in the African renaissance.

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 was a man of steely resolve on principles, yet soft to the core in relations with people.

He was one of the colourful politicians of the Second Republic. Though he would go down in history as the first state governor to be impeached, he was insistent that the reason the opposition National Party of Nigeria (NPN) dominated legislature removed him from office was his plan to massively empower the masses through the establishment of micro and small enterprises.

His brief period as the governor of Kaduna State was remarkable in his commitment to the people in the improvement of their living and working conditions.

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.

He consistently spoke truth to power and was always on the side of the people at the most critical junctions in the history of the country. He wore his opposition epaulet with honour and dignity. He could not be compromised, intimidated or silenced.

He fought a good fight. He ran a good race. He won an invaluable and eternal position in the hearts of the masses and patriots for his priceless services to humanity.

We pray that Allah SWT will forgive his shortcomings and grant him a beautiful abode in Aljannah Fridaous. Aamin.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
Minister of Interior
Abuja

Rauf Aregbesola

KALU MOURNS FORMER GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE, BALARABE MUSA
Former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu has described the demise of former Governor of Kaduna state and former Presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa as a huge loss to the nation.
Extolling the virtues of the late politician, Kalu acknowledged the prominent roles played by the former Chairman of Coalition of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in the enthronement and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, adding that the former Governor was a strong advocate of a just and fair society.

While commiserating with family, friends and political associates of the late statesman, the former Governor urged the political class to emulate the remarkable and worthy leadership qualities of the late politician, stressing that political office holders should use their positions to advance the cause of the people as exemplified by the late statesman.

In a condolence message, Kalu admonished the Balarabe family 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.

He said, ” as we mourn the demise of elderstatesman and frontline politician, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, who was also a former Governor of Kaduna state and Presidential candidate of PRP in 2003 general elections, 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.

Kalu while praying to Allah to forgive the late statesman his shortcomings and grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus, conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Kaduna state over the irreplaceable loss.

SOURCE

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. [/url]

Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Painfully, Balarabe Musa, a nationalist and one of the few honest and courageous second generation of leaders in Nigeria is gone. His exit came at a time he is needed the most. We will miss him, but most importantly, his ideals of populism will be kept alive.
May his soul RIP.

Ayodele Fayose

Inna lillahi wa inna Ilaihi Rajiun!

On behalf of my family, I express my heartfelt condolences to the Balarabe’s Family over the loss of their father, grandfather and great grandfather, Alhaji Musa Balarabe.

Alhaji Musa Balarabe was a patriot and an Elder statesman who stood for everything right and just. In him, we have lost a father and mentor.

Over the course of his long and distinguished life, Baba made enormous contributions to the development of the North and Nigeria.

I pray Almighty Allah forgive his sins and grant him Aljannah Firdaus.

Ibrahim Dankwambo

It is with deep sense of loss but total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah that I received the news of the passing on of one of Nigeria's foremost politicians & defender of the interests of the masses, His Excellency, Alh. Balarabe Musa, Former Governor of Kaduna State.

Senator Uba Sani

On behalf of the entire Members of @Kadlegislature we will like to send our condolences to the family of late Alh, Balarabe Musa, the former Governor of Kaduna State. May the Almighty Grant him Aljanatul Firdaus Ameen.

Kaduna State House of Assembly

In the death of Malam Balarabe Musa, our country just lost a real Voice of Truth.

An unusual being in Nigerian Politics. He refused to conform to the rot.

He’ll truly be missed by all who care to build a Just and Decent Nigeria.

May God comfort his family and associates��

Oby Ezekwesili

Good night ALHAJI BALARABE MUSA, former Governor of Kaduna State... SAD, you never saw the Nigeria of your DREAMS... May ALLAH grant you Aljannah Firdaus...

Dele Momodu

I am sad to learn of the passage today of the late Balarabe Musa, Second Republic Governor of Kaduna State. Forthright, principled, and a firm believer in equity in Nigeria, he stood for the poor and argued that Nigeria’s president in 2023 should be from the Southeast region. RIP

Kingsley Moghalu

IPAC: Balarabe Musa was a forthright leader
The Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IPAC, said the death of the former Governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, who passed on in the early hours of Wednesday, 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.”

SOURCE