By JACOB KUBEKA, Abuja –
Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu, were among notable political leaders that joined other Nigerians in mourning second republic governor of Kaduna state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa who died on Wednesday at the age of 84.
Senator Mark, in a condolence message released by his Media Adviser, Paul Mumeh, noted that Balarabe was a defender of the masses and described his demise as a big blow to the struggle for the emancipation of the oppressed in the country.
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Describing the late politician as an uncommon activist and defender of the ordinary man, Senator Mark said, “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.”
In Balarabe Musa, Senator Mark stated that Nigeria has lost an honest and patriotic statesman, pointing out that until his death, he remained one of the best and fertile minds amongst the political class.
Although the former governor paid his dues, Senator Mark lamented that Balarabe Musa departed the stage when his wealth of experience and knowledge was needed to navigate through the murky terrain of the Nigerian politics.
Mark noted that history would be kind to Balarabe Musa as he left fond memories and positive footprints in the sand of time.
Senator 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.
On his part, AsiwajuTinubu described the late Balarabe Musa as the Principled Progressive Politician and a principled and committed progressive politician.
In a condolence message issued on Wednesday by his Media Office and 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.
![Bola Tinubu, APC National Leader](https://i2.wp.com/nationalaccordnewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/tinubu-baba-800x532-1.jpeg?ssl=1)
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. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, reward his good deeds on earth and grant him Aljanna Fridaus. Amin.”
A former governor of Abia state and Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Kalu, also mourned 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.
![Orji Uzor-Kalu, the former governor of Abia State](https://i0.wp.com/nationalaccordnewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Orji-Uzor-Kalu-960x539-1.jpg?resize=960%2C539&ssl=1)
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.
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