From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Former Governor of old Kaduna State and National Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa has praised The Sun Publishing Limited for its annual awards.
Speaking while receiving a team from The Sun, which visited to formally notify him of his Lifetime Achievement award, Musa said the newspaper has made a mark in identifying worthy Nigerians for special awards.
He expressed appreciation for The Sun Lifetime Achievement Award, 2016, and promised to attend the annual event scheduled for February 18 in Lagos.
Musa told The Sun delegation, at his Kaduna residence: “I am happy about The Sun Lifetime Achievement award. I am happy that there are Nigerians who can assess the relevance of leadership in this country.”
While thanking The Sun for according him recognition, he said: “As symbolic as this award is, it is impossible in some other countries, not only in Africa, even in Europe, to exercise their conscience and identify those you think are relevant.”
The ex-governor used the opportunity to call on future Nigerian leaders to ensure reconstruction of the country for their own betterment.
He said: “I think future leaders have to embrace what I call social reconstruction of Nigeria because there is no way we can continue like this.
“If you find it difficult to reconstruct Nigeria on the basis of socialism, start it with the leading role of the state in the economy because that is very important.
“What is happening now; this level of poverty and hunger and marginalisation of the people in many respects, is done simply because we are being harassed with the leading role of the private sector in the economy in Nigeria.
“Now, let me tell you, before the military came, and even after the military came for some years, before 1990, the leading role of the state in the economy was relevant, so relevant that you didn’t have the present level of corruption, stealing and criminal waste of resources.”
Earlier, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Eric Osagie, explained that the Lifetime Achievement award category of The Sun Awards was developed to “honour Nigerians, both low and mighty in the society, who have contributed and distinguished themselves to and for the development of the country in their respective areas of human endeavours.”
The MD, who was represented by Ismail Omipidan, Assistant Editor (Politics), also said: “The Sun Board of Editors voted you as a winner of the award, in recognition of your political contribution to bringing about good governance as well as fighting the socio-economic cause of the Talakawas (The down trodden masses) in the country.”
He invited Musa to The Sun Awards billed for Saturday, February 18, 2016,, at the Expo Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.