By Abiola Olawale
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has led the nation in mourning the death of elder statesman, renowned industrialist, and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who passed away at the age of 90.
In a condolence statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described Tukur’s death as the “end of a remarkable chapter in Nigeria’s political and economic history”.
Highlighting his expansive career, Tinubu noted that Tukur, a late Tafidan Adamawa, was a towering personality whose footprint spanned across public administration, corporate governance, industry, and pan-African business leadership.
Born on September 15, 1935, Tukur rose to national prominence as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority from 1975 to 1982, where he helped modernise port operations and improve Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Tinubu recalled Tukur’s colourful foray into politics during the Second Republic, which led to his election as governor of the old Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba states) in 1983.
The deceased subsequently distinguished himself in the private sector as Chairman of BHI Holdings and the DADDO Group of Companies, conglomerates with interests in manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and trading, and served as Federal Minister of Industries under the administration of General Sani Abacha from 1993 to 1995.
On the continental stage, Tukur was an eloquent champion of Africa’s economic renaissance. As Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, he was a relentless advocate for intra-African trade, private sector-led growth and sustainable development.
Tukur was the National Chairman of the PDP from March 2012 to January 2014, during which President Tinubu recalls Tukur’s sterling contributions to democracy through enforcing party discipline and building consensus.
According to Tinubu: “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.”
He extended his heartfelt condolences to the Tukur family, to the Fombina Emirate of Adamawa, the Government and people of Adamawa State, and to the entire political and business communities in Nigeria and across Africa.
Tinubu prayed that Almighty Allah would forgive Tukur’s shortcomings, grant his soul Aljannah Firdaus, and comfort all who mourn this irreparable loss.
