President Bola Tinubu has mourned the death of former Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Bamanga Mohammed Tukur, describing the former governor and minister as a towering figure whose influence spanned Nigeria’s political, economic and business landscape.
Tukur, who also served as governor of the old Gongola State and Minister of Industries, died on Saturday at the age of 90 after a prolonged illness.
Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tukur’s decades-long career reflected a life of public service, enterprise and political leadership.
The President said Nigeria would miss Tukur’s “wise counsel and fatherly guidance,” describing him as urbane, generous and committed to integrity and service.
Tukur served as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority between 1975 and 1982 before entering politics and becoming governor of the old Gongola State in 1983.
He later served as Minister of Industries under the military administration of General Sani Abacha and became National Chairman of the PDP in March 2012.
He resigned as PDP chairman in January 2014 during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Tukur was also involved in private business and continental economic advocacy, serving as Chairman of BHI Holdings and the DADDO Group of Companies, as well as Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group.
Tinubu condoled with the Tukur family, the Fombina Emirate of Adamawa, the Adamawa State Government and the political and business communities in Nigeria and across Africa.
He prayed that Allah would forgive Tukur’s shortcomings, grant him Aljannah Firdaus and comfort his family and other mourners.