Balarabe Musa put the poor in the
centre of governance – ASUU
Uji
Abdullahi Iliyasu
Abuja
The Academic
Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said Nigeria has has lost an
iconic revolutionary in Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, former governor of old
Kaduna state who passed on at the age of 84 years on Wednesday, November
11, 2020.
A press
release signed by ASUU national chairman, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi Sunday,
describes Balarabe Musa as a committed revolutionary who worked for the social
transformation Nigeria.
“The
transition of Balarabe Musa is another major loss to the family of left-wing
political leaders in Nigeria and Africa. Balarabe Musa belonged in the league
of Eskor Toyo of Nigeria, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Steve Biko of South Africa
and other African revolutionaries.
“His subscription to the socialist ideology of
putting the well-being of the poor at the centre of governance made him
unpopular with the ruling class and reactionary elements of his generation. His
radical politics and activism pitched him against the status quo politicians
who did much to distract him from the development of his Kaduna State (now
Kaduna and Katsina States),” the statement reads in part.
Ogunyemi
said ASUU has lost a comrade whose Talakawa agenda would be missed by Nigerian
masses. “Balarabe Musa was a political disciple of Mallam Aminu Kano whose
Talakatwa agenda led to the founding of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in
1978.
“When Musa was elected Governor of the
old Kaduna State in 1979, he practicalised his sociaiist principles in ways
that revolutionised education, health, housing, transportation, agriculture,
and employment and brought about a quantum leap in the people’s quaiiiy of
life.
“His
uncompromising stance against institutionalised corruption and politics
of self-aggrandisement incurred the wrath of right-wing political class
who conspired to impeach him less than two years into his tenure on June 23,
1981.”
With all the
persecutions, Ogunyemi said, Musa remained undaunted till he breathed his
last.
ASUU noted
that Musa, as chairman of Conference of Political Parties made incisive
and insightful contributions to national discourses and provided formidable
opposition to the prevalent ideology of underdevelopment.”He rejected clannish
politics and unbridled religiosity used to manipulate, stereotype and exploit
the mass of the Nigerian people by the kleptocratic ruling class.
“He unapologetically professed his commitment
to the socialist path for addressing the multifarious and multidimensional
problems confronting the Nigerian state. His advocacy for state-funded
education at all levels and state-financed health provision, transportation,
housing and employment endeared him to the grassroots and left-wing politicians
and activists not only in Kaduna State, but all over Nigeria and beyond.”
According to the release, Musa remained the
poorest former governor in the history of Nigeria.
“He was a major source of inspiration to the
consolidation of ASUU principles. He stood by the Union all through thick and
thin of the 1980s and 1990s.
“He
participated in our activities at very short notice. And, as if to bid us
farewell, Comrade Musa gave the last National Delegates Conference (NDC)
lecture of our Union at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (ATBU) on
4th May, 2018.”
He
said his lecture bordered on Ideology, restructuring and the liberation of
Nigeria.
ASUU said
Balarabe’s departure is a challenge to the radical socialist elements in Nigeria
to close ranks and unite the oppressed to form their own party with the goal
of building a country where justice serves all .