President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed sorrow over the death of elder statesman Alhaji Musa Musawa, describing him as “one of the last bastions of freedom fighters who fought for Nigeria’s independence.”
Musawa, a former broadcaster, diplomat and astute politician, died on Tuesday night following a protracted illness. He was 86 years old.
He is survived by a number of children and other family members, including the deputy spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Barrister Hannatu Musawa.
In a statement issued Tuesday night by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, his media aide, the president-elect said the late statesman from Katsina was one of the last bastions of freedom fighters who fought for Nigeria’s independence.
He said: “He was a truly progressive and broad-minded statesman. As a young man, he joined forces with like-minded comrades in the defunct Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) to fight for Independence and total liberation of our people.
“In the years since independence, Alhaji Musa Musawa continued to ally with progressive movements in and outside the realm of politics to advance the cause of the poor and oppressed in the society.
“He was a progressive politician who paid his dues as a dedicated patriot.
“Nigeria has lost an illustrious son and we would miss his fatherly counsel at a time we need it the most.”
Tinubu also prayed to the Almighty Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the departed elder and offer his family the needed consolation at their moment of grief.