The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has paid condolence visits to the family of its late former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the Lamido of Adamawa and the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri.
The delegation, led by the Chairman of the party’s Interim National Working Committee, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, visited the Tukur family at Tukur Lodge, Yola; the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, at the Lamido’s Palace; and Governor Fintiri at the Government House, Yola.
In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, Comrade Ini Ememobong, Turaki said the party was pained by the death of the former National Chairman, stressing that his contributions to Nigeria’s political, business and social development would remain indelible.
“According to the Quran, every person who lives will die and go to the great beyond. So, Baba Tukur has gone the way of all mortals.
“We do not mourn his death because all humans will die, but we are pained by the loss of his presence and the concomitant virtues he graciously exuded all through his life, in both private and public engagements.
“Our visit is in recognition of the great legacy he left, not just in Adamawa, old Gongola and Northern Nigeria, but also the impressionable footprints he left on the Nigerian business and political landscape.”
Turaki described the late Tukur as one of the founding fathers of the PDP and pledged the party’s commitment to preserving its ideals.
“As a party, we are deeply pained by his loss, and we are determined, now more than before, to ensure that the PDP, of which the late icon was one of its founding fathers, remains true to its ideals and is not diluted or compromised,” he said.
Responding, the late party chairman’s son and Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, Hon. Awwal Tukur, thanked the PDP leadership for the condolence visit.
He described Turaki as a brother and said his late father had regarded the PDP leader as a son.
“Baba took you as a son, and you took him as a father. Today, he is gone, but his legacy lives on. He elegantly bestrode the professional, social, economic and administrative spaces, leaving a great impact in his wake,” Awwal said.
He expressed pride in the PDP as a legacy political party, recalling the sacrifices made by its founding fathers to establish the party.
“I am happy that, despite all the troubles, the PDP still remains the only legacy party in this country. I say so with pride, knowing the efforts and resources expended and the risks undertaken to birth the party,” he said.
At the Government House, Governor Fintiri appreciated the PDP leadership for the visit, describing the death of Bamanga Tukur as a great loss to Adamawa State.
“Your visit to Adamawa today to offer your condolences is one which I, on behalf of the government and people of Adamawa State, appreciate greatly.
“We have lost a father and a shining light, but we trust that Allah (SWT) will grant him Aljannah Firdausi and comfort all of us who are grieving,” the governor said.
At the Lamido’s Palace, the delegation was received by the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa.
The monarch described the deceased, who held the traditional title of Tafidan Adamawa, as a highly respected son of the kingdom who brought honour, recognition and respect to Adamawa.
The Lamido said Bamanga Tukur’s death was a huge loss whose impact would be felt for a long time and prayed Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah Firdausi.
Members of the PDP delegation included the BoT Secretary, former Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu; Hajiya Zainab Maina, member of the BoT; National Treasurer, Isa Abubakar; National Organising Secretary, Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan; National Financial Secretary, Obiechina Daniel; National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u, Esq.; National Youth Leader, Umar Dan Abu; and National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong.
Also in the delegation were the PDP governorship candidates in Adamawa, Taraba and Kebbi States: Hon. Caleb Andrew Myebangara, Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya and Ibrahim Abdullahi, Esq., respectively.
