Nigeria Has Lost A Statesman, Tinubu Mourns Bamanga Tukur

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, northern governors and other eminent Nigerians have mourned the death of elder statesman and former governor of the old Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, describing him as a man of big ideas and bold enterprise who believed strongly in Nigeria’s limitless potential.

Tukur, a renowned businessman, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Tafidan Adamawa, died yesterday at the age of 90 after a yet to be ascertained illness.

The family yesterday fixed the burial for today.overnors and other eminent Nigerians have mourned the death of elder statesman and former governor of the old Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, describing him as a man of big ideas and bold enterprise who believed strongly in Nigeria’s limitless potential.

Tukur, a renowned businessman, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Tafidan Adamawa, died yesterday at the age of 90 after a yet to be ascertained illness.

The family yesterday fixed the burial for today.Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, in a quick response to the development, declared a three-day morning period in honour of the elder statesman.

President Tinubu, in a statement at the weekend by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tukur’s death marked the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigeria’s political and economic history.

“Alhaji Tukur was urbane, generous and deeply rooted in the values of integrity and service that the Adamawa Emirate and the nation hold dear. He was a man of big ideas and bold enterprise who believed in Nigeria’s limitless potential. Nigeria will sorely miss his wise counsel and fatherly guidance”, the President said.Tinubu described the late elder statesman as a towering figure whose distinguished career cut across public administration, governance, industry, politics and pan-African business leadership.

Born on September 15, 1935, Tukur rose to national prominence as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) from 1975 to 1982, where, according to the President, he contributed to the modernisation of port operations and improvement of Nigeria’s maritime sector.His colourful entry into partisan politics during the Second Republic culminated in his election as governor of the old Gongola State, comprising present-day Adamawa and Taraba states in 1983.

Tukur later returned to the private sector, where he established himself as a leading businessman, serving as Chairman of BHI Holdings and the DADDO Group of Companies, with interests spanning manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and trading.

He also served as Federal Minister of Industries under the military administration of the late General Sani Abacha between 1993 and 1995.

Tinubu recalled Tukur’s contributions beyond Nigeria, describing him as an eloquent champion of Africa’s economic renaissance and a relentless advocate of intra-African trade, private sector-led growth and sustainable development. The late businessman served as Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, platforms through which he promoted stronger private-sector participation in Africa’s economic development.

Tukur returned to active partisan politics and served as National Chairman of the PDP from March 2012 to January 2014.

The President recalled his contributions to Nigeria’s democracy during the period, particularly his efforts at enforcing party discipline and building consensus.Tinubu extended his condolences to the Tukur family, the Fombina Emirate of Adamawa, the government and people of Adamawa State as well as the political and business communities in Nigeria and across Africa.

He prayed Almighty Allah to forgive Tukur’s shortcomings, grant his soul Aljannah Firdaus and comfort all those mourning his death.