President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are among those that have joined the government and people of Kaduna State in mourning a former civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa.
President Buhari, in a statement by Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant (Media & Publicity) said that Alhaji Musa 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.
He prays that the almighty God will grant his soul eternal rest, and comfort his family, friends and associates.
Senator Lawan, in his statement by Ola Awoniyi, his Special Adviser (Media) condoled with the family of the former Kaduna State Governor as well as with the government and people of the state over the incident.
The Senate President described Alhaji Balarabe Musa as a principled political leader who throughout his life 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 long and illustrious political career.
The Senate President said Alhaji Balarabe Musa’s life personified the struggle for the underdogs, adding that his legacy is indelible and will always be cherished.
Asiwaju Tinubu, in his statement, described Musa as a principled and committed progressive politician.
In the condolence message signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman, Asiwaju Tinubu said the former Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party would be sorely missed by the entire country, particularly by the Talakawas who he fought for all his life.
Tinubu said: “The passing on Wednesday of the first civilian governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, is saddening. His demise is a blow to the progressives and all those committed to the socio-political development of the country.
“Alhaji Musa was a statesman and a principled and committed progressive politician. He was very uncompromising. He stood unwaveringly by his convictions. Even at the height of the impeachment moves against him by the NPN-controlled Kaduna State House of Assembly in 1981, Alhaji Musa remained steadfast and refused to compromise his principles.
“A frontline leader of the People’s Redemption Party in the Second Republic, such was his commitment to the ideals of the party that he reorganized and restarted the same party to participate in the ongoing dispensation.
“He provided leadership for the political class. As the Chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Musa led the parties to demand positive change in the political space. Although he lived to an advanced age of 84, he would be sorely missed by the political class, indeed by the entire country for his consistent struggle and commitment to social and economic change. In particular, the Talakawas who he struggled for all his life would miss him.
“I commiserate with his immediate and extended family. I mourn with the people and government of Kaduna State for the loss of their illustrious son and eminent politician. I mourn with the country for we have all lost a fine progressive.
The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja on Wednesday said that the party was grieved by the death of the elder statesman.
Ologbondiyan described Musa’s death as a huge national loss given his steadfastness, patriotic contributions and zeal in fighting for the unity, stability and development of the nation.
He described the late Musa as an outstanding democrat, a forthright leader and an embodiment of ideals.
Ologbondiyan said that the deceased spent the better part of his life championing the entrenchment of justice, equity, fairness and rule of law in every sector of our national life, in spite of the challenges he faced.
“Our party commiserates with the Musa family, the government and people of Kaduna state as well as his friends and associates.
“We pray that the Almighty God grants eternal repose to his soul and fortitude to the family and the nation, at large, to bear this irreparable loss.”
