Tinubu Mourns Bamanga Tukur, Says Nigeria Has Lost Towering Statesman

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mourned the death of former Governor of old Gongola State and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, describing him as a towering statesman whose death marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigeria’s political and economic history.

Tukur, the Tafidan Adamawa, died at the age of 90. In a condolence message issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the deceased as a distinguished public servant, businessman, politician and pan African economic advocate whose career spanned several decades.

Born on September 15, 1935, Tukur rose to national prominence as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority from 1975 to 1982, where he played a role in the development of Nigeria’s maritime sector. He later entered politics and was elected Governor of the old Gongola State in 1983, before serving as Minister of Industries under the administration of General Sani Abacha from 1993 to 1995.

The President also recalled Tukur’s contributions to the private sector as Chairman of BHI Holdings and the DADDO Group of Companies, with interests spanning manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and trading. At the continental level, he served as Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, advocating greater intra African trade, private sector growth and sustainable development.

Tukur later returned to frontline politics as National Chairman of the PDP from March 2012 to January 2014. Tinubu commended his contributions to democratic development, particularly his efforts to promote party discipline and consensus building.

“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,” Tinubu said.

The President extended his condolences to the Tukur family, the Fombina Emirate, the government and people of Adamawa State, as well as the political and business communities in Nigeria and across Africa.

He prayed that Almighty Allah would forgive Tukur’s shortcomings, grant him Aljannah Firdaus and comfort his family and all those mourning his death.