By Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice
There are public servants, and then there are public souls—individuals for whom service is not a mere calling, but a natural extension of their character. As Senator Mohammed Sani Musa clocks 60, he stands tall as one of the rare few whose political journey has been both a reflection and amplification of a deeply rooted humanitarian ethos. In the arid landscape of Nigerian politics, where loyalty is often transactional and service cosmetic, Sani Musa’s story offers something far more compelling: substance.
His residence in Minna and Abuja is not merely a home; it is a civic centre of sorts. Twice daily—at lunch and dinner—the doors open not just to family or friends, but to neighbours, aides, constituents, and those drawn by the hum of communal grace. His dining table, typically adorned with generous pots of food in varied cuisines, hosts a revolving audience whose common denominator is the simple desire to eat—and to feel welcome. The spirit of hospitality is so entrenched in his household that those who cannot fit into the dining space find sustenance nonetheless through the outreach efforts of his wife, Hajia Sa’adatu Sani. Her pet project, the Future Pathways Foundation, provides daily meals to hundreds of people across Minna. Between the two, altruism is not coordinated; it is instinctive.
But beyond the private displays of generosity lies an equally formidable record in public service. Upon his election to the Senate in 2019, representing Niger East, Sani Musa made a gesture that few believed—and even fewer have dared to replicate. He forfeited his salary and allowances as a senator, instructing his bank to channel all entitlements directly to the constituency office. From that point forward, not a kobo entered his personal account. The funds were instead directed to education scholarships for indigent youths, empowerment schemes for artisans, job placements for unemployed graduates, the construction and equipping of hospitals, and consistent food support during major festivities. The impact is both visible and measurable.
The politics of Niger State—and indeed of Nigeria—seldom makes space for quiet achievers. Yet, in the midst of theatrical populism, Senator Musa has carved a different model of leadership: one rooted in results, humility, and unshakable principles. His constituents call him 313, a numerical moniker that has become synonymous with unbroken loyalty and tangible development. His work has not merely transformed the physical infrastructure of his constituency; it has also reshaped the civic expectations of governance itself.
When he declared interest in the national chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress (APC), many of his people responded not with applause, but with trepidation. For them, Sani Musa is not a man to be exported to Abuja’s party corridors—he is to remain at home, anchored in service. It is a paradox: that a people should fear the ascent of their champion for fear of losing his presence. But it is also a testament. They trust him not only to represent, but to remain.
His personal story is no less rich. I first met him over two decades ago as a student journalist, armed with a pen and purpose, in search of an interview for the Sardauna Magazine. After our conversation, he looked at me and said, “I’m so impressed with your boldness—even as a student.” That single remark planted a lifelong connection. Years later, he would take me under his wings, not just as a mentee, but as a member of what is now fondly known as the “Sani Boys”—young men and women nurtured by his mentorship, empowered by his generosity. In 2017, long before he entered the Senate, he seeded my business with a capital of five million naira. No speeches. No conditions. Just trust.
One year later, in 2018, I presented him with my book, #TheBuhariInUs. He perused it silently. Hours later, I found myself beside him in a car bound for the Presidential Villa. Our destination? The First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari. It was an audience I had never imagined—and one I only received because of Sani Musa’s quiet but effective intervention. Hajia Aisha greeted me warmly, flipped through the book, and smiled at a tribute I had written to Hajia Salamatu Baiwa Umar-Eluma. She asked if I knew Salamatu personally. I replied, “She’s one of the earthly angels from Kogi.” That moment—serene, surreal—was made possible by a man who opens doors without seeking credit for the keys he holds.
He is entirely free of prejudice, deeply detribalized, and profoundly guided by a moral compass that refuses to bend. His loyalty to Nigeria is not dictated by party lines or ethnic affiliations, but by the irreducible belief that leadership must serve. It is no overstatement to say that he is a man with a date with national reckoning. And when that day comes, the country will find itself prepared—because men like Sani Musa have laid the moral scaffolding for what a nation ought to be.
Only those who tread the thorns of sacrifice can plant seeds of enduring change. Senator Sani Musa has walked that path—and continues to walk it—with rare courage and uncommon dignity. His life is a quiet rebuttal to cynicism, a reminder that public office need not corrupt, and that power, when rightly held, can elevate not just the holder but the whole community.
As he turns 60 , we do more than mark the passing of time—we affirm the presence of legacy. His life is a text in service, written not in ink but in deed. May future generations flip through its pages with reverence.
Happy birthday, Senator. May your next chapter be as luminous as the ones you’ve already penned.
— Appreciatively musing.
