Various speakers at the Third Memorial Lecture for late Balarabe Musa, former Governor of Kaduna State, have called on the government to immortalise the late governor who represented genuine political aspiration and integrity.
Among the dignitaries include the Natioanal Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) ,Peter Obi who was represented by the party’s campaign spokesman, Dr Yunusa Tanko at the 3rd Memorial Lecture for Balarabe said, “We request the Federal Government to rename the Kaduna International Airport as Balarabe Musa International Airport”.
He also suggested that Kaduna State should name the Silver Jubilee Lugard roundabout with an effigy of the late governor mounted on the roundabout, as our struggle point for the poor, to be called Dandalin Malam Balarabe Musa”.
In his eulogy, titled: ‘Alhaji Balarabe Musa, At Times Like This’, the Director General of the Michael Imodu National Institute of Labour Studies (MINILS), Issa Aremu, said that Balarabe Musa was the first democratically elected governor of Kaduna State who implemented decent work agenda favored by International Labour Organization ( ILO).
“He was our father, grandfather ( Baba) and mentor. We miss him greatly. Three years like 30 years! May Allah make his grave comfortable and grant him Aljanat Firdaus,” Aremu said.
Aremu explained that “I bring warm greetings of remembrance from the two Ministers of Employment and Labour , namely His Excellency Simon Lalong and Mrs Nkiruka Onyejeocha. Greetings of solidarity also from the management and staff of Micheal Imodu National Institute for Labour Studies ( MINILS) in Ilorin.’
“Both late Pa Imodu, number 1 Labour man who died in 2005 at the age of 103 and Alhaji Balarabe were political associates and comrades. They were nationalists who fought for independence. They were revolutionary democrats who believed that democracy is the road to good governance and socialism”.
He pointed out that “They all fought military dictatorships. They were progressives who fought for equitable distribution of national wealth, and shunned corruption and greed! They stood firmly for the Talakawa despite harassment and persecution including impeachment from office in the case of Alhaji Balarabe Musa.”
While calling for a posthumous honour for Balarabe Musa, Aremu explained that Balarabe was the first democratically elected Governor of Kaduna State who implemented decent work agenda favoured by International Labour Organisation ( ILO).
” He together with late Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, then governor of Kano State, were the first to declare May Day in 1981. They were also the first to implement minimum wage. I am happy that Governor Uba Sani is emulating Baba in terms of being friendly with Labour. ”
“We are marking the 40th anniversary of MINILS this year. MINILS was commissioned in 1983 by late President Shehu Shagari . As part of the anniversary activities, we are conferring posthumous Fellowships of National Institute for La our studies (FNILS) on Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi and former President Shehu Shagari in December for their commitment to decent work for Nigerian workers.”
“I have been privileged to engage with Alhaji Balarabe for over forty years as a student, journalist and trade union activist (almost in-that-order). He was a good friend and enthusiastic supporter of my former union; Textile Workers Union.”
“He was my political mentor as a budding progressive politician with amazing memory and recollections. Alhaji Balarabe in 2019 in Kaduna was the first to endorse my Labour Party ( LP) candidature for Kwara State governorship (in his words “99%, but would have been 100 % if you are contesting under PRP platform.”
“Nigeria, Africa and progressive world had lost an audacious, principled, selfless statesman. It was commendable for standing for good principles in governance. His house was ever wide open to all 24/7! He was also a philosopher statesman, an avid reader and intellectual debater.”
“The struggle of Alhaji Balarabe and many of his compatriots, was for an inclusive better Nigeria, Africa and progressive world. Alh. Balarabe Musa undoubtedly epitomized the best of values that you can get among the best of the past (and contemporary?) African leaders, that include Late Aminu Kano, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nelson Mandela, Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah and Sekou Tuore.The best honour to the late statesman is for Nigeria’s ruling class to reinvent politics of principles and sustainable development.”
“Alhaji Balarabe was a good friend and comrade of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu! Indeed during his campaign, Tinubu was here in Kaduna to see the family of Baba. What would have been the stand of Baba at times like this? Baba would have been excited today that his friend is the 5th democratically elected President in this dispensation. If Baba were alive, he would have called on all of us to support Tinubu’s Renewed Hope 8 point Agenda and deepen democracy!”
