He was 84 years of age.

“Alhaji Balarabe Musa has died. May Allah forgive his soul and grant him Aljanna firdausi. Amin,” shared former Senator Shehu Sani who was a political associate of Musa's.

Balarabe Musa was elected Governor of Kaduna State in the second Republic.

He was elected governor in 1979 but was impeached in controversial circumstances in 1981.

Often regarded as a progessive, Musa was in the trenches as well to rail against the military junta of late Gen Sani Abacha.

"President Muhammadu Buhari joins the government and people of Kaduna State in mourning a former civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, whose passing will be sorely missed by all Nigerians who have diligently followed his antecedents as a voice for the voiceless," a statement from Garba Shehu, who is the president's spokesperson, reads.

"President Buhari believes Alhaji Musa reflected the passion and vigour that heralded Nigeria’s independence, which steadily translated into activism for return to democracy at the height of military interregnum and has remained steadfast in the call for good and inclusive governance.

"As the former governor goes home, the president affirms that he left a bold footprint on Nigeria’s democracy, and his role in promoting good governance and development will always be remembered and appreciated by posterity," the statement adds.