President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mourned the death of elder statesman, businessman and former Governor of the old Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, who died at the age of 90.
In a statement Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy)Bayo Onanuga said in a condolence message, President Tinubu described the death of the Tafidan Adamawa as the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigeria’s political, economic and business history.
The President said Tukur was a towering figure whose distinguished career spanned 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, a position he held from 1975 to 1982. During his tenure, he contributed to the modernisation of port operations and the development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
He later ventured into politics during the Second Republic and was elected Governor of the old Gongola State in 1983, an area that subsequently became Adamawa and Taraba states.
Tukur also established a strong presence in the private sector as Chairman of BHI Holdings and the DADDO Group of Companies, with interests spanning manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and trading. He subsequently served as Federal Minister of Industries under the administration of General Sani Abacha from 1993 to 1995.
On the continental stage, the former governor emerged as a prominent advocate of Africa’s economic development. As Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, he championed intra-African trade, private sector-led growth and sustainable development.
Tukur also served as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party from March 2012 to January 2014. President Tinubu commended his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development, particularly his efforts to promote party discipline and consensus-building.
Describing the late statesman as “urbane, generous and deeply rooted in the values of integrity and service,” Tinubu said Tukur believed strongly in Nigeria’s potential and provided wise counsel and fatherly guidance to many.
“Alhaji Tukur 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 extended his condolences to the Tukur family, the Fombina Emirate of Adamawa, the Adamawa State Government and people, as well as Nigeria’s political and business communities and their counterparts across Africa.
The President prayed that Almighty Allah would forgive Tukur’s shortcomings, grant him Aljannah Firdaus and give his family and other mourners the strength to bear the loss.
