Ex-Kaduna gov, Balarabe Musa, dies at 84

A former governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, has died at the age of 84.

The fourth child of late Balarabe Musa, AbdulKasim Balarabe Musa, said his father died of a heart attack on Wednesday.

He said, “For quite some times, my father was having problems with his heart.

“The former Governor of Kaduna, Ramalan Yero, and others took him overseas for medical treatment but since then, his health has been deteriorating.

“We are happy he died this morning (Wednesday) in his sleep around past 8am.”

A former senator from Kaduna State wrote on Twitter, “Balarabe Musa: Inna lillayhir rajiun. May Allah forgive his soul and grant him Aljanna Firdausi. Amin.”

Balarabe, a critic, was the leader of the People’s Redemption Party in the 4th Republic but stepped down as the chairman in 2018 due to health issues.

He was elected governor of Kaduna State during the Nigeria’s Second Republic in 1979 and was impeached on June 23, 1981.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari and other Nigerians have started sending their condolences to the family and the state government.

The President described the former Kaduna governor as “a voice for the voiceless.”

He said this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, which read, “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 bold footprints on Nigeria’s democracy, and his role in promoting good governance and development will always be remembered and appreciated by posterity.”

In his condolence message, Senator Sani said, ‘Nigeria has lost a patriot, a revolutionary, a nationalist, an honest man and a man of principles and conviction.

“Balarabe Musa lived an accomplished life of honesty, simplicity and service to humanity. He was an exemplar for prudence, dignity and honour.

“Balarabe Musa was the best governor that has ever presided over the affairs of Kaduna State. He was one of the few governors and politicians released after the collapse of the second republic and declared innocent of any wrongdoing.”