President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mourned the passing of elder statesman, renowned businessman and former governor of the old Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, describing his demise as the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigeria’s political and economic history.
In a condolence message issued by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Mr Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the late statesman as a towering figure whose distinguished career spanned public administration, governance, industry, politics and pan-African business leadership.
The Nigerian leader acknowledged Bamanga Tukur’s contributions to Africa’s economic development as Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, where he championed intra-African trade, private sector-led growth and sustainable development.
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President Tinubu further described Alhaji Tukur as urbane, generous and deeply rooted in the values of integrity and service.
“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,” the President said.
President Tinubu extended his condolences to the Tukur family, the Fombina Emirate of Adamawa, 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 Alhaji Tukur’s shortcomings, grant his soul Aljannah Firdaus and comfort all those mourning the loss.
The President recalled Tukur’s entry into politics during the Second Republic, culminating in his election as Governor of the old Gongola State, comprising present-day Adamawa and Taraba States, in 1983.
Alhaji Tukur, the Tafidan Adamawa, died at the age of 90.
Born on September 15, 1935, Tukur rose to national prominence as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority between 1975 and 1982, where he contributed to the modernisation of port operations and the development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Tukur subsequently distinguished himself in the private sector as Chairman of BHI Holdings and the DADDO Group of Companies, with interests spanning manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and trading.
He also served as Federal Minister of Industries under the administration of General Sani Abacha from 1993 to 1995.
The late statesman also served as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from March 2012 to January 2014, with the President recalling his contributions to democracy through party discipline and consensus-building.
