President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday described politics as a public service and not an opportunity to amass wealth overnight at the expense of the ordinary people.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said this while congratulating a former civilian governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, who clocked 81 recently.
“President Buhari urged other politicians and younger citizens, in particular, to emulate Alhaji Musa’s virtuous life of integrity, selflessness and patriotism in order to make Nigeria achieve progress.
“The President said politics is a public service and not an opportunity to amass wealth overnight at the expense of the ordinary people or the voters,” the statement read.
Buhari described the former governor as a “man of unassailable integrity and untainted record of public service.”
He said even Musa’s worst enemies and critics could not dispute his remarkable reputation for integrity and selfless service to the people.
“Balarabe Musa is one of Nigeria’s brightest stars of integrity and sterling principles. The octogenarian has lived to his reputation by avoiding any conduct associated with corruption and dishonour,” he said.
The President recalled that his close association with Musa in the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties had enabled him “to appreciate the radical politician’s patriotism and his commitment to build strong opposition in the country in order to deepen democracy.”
Buhari also praised Musa’s independent-mindedness, stressing that the principled politician could criticise even his friends, associates and allies when it comes to politics.
The President prayed that God would continue to bless the elder statesman with good health, wisdom and longer life in the service of the country.
