Bamanga Tukur Dies at 90, Tinubu Pays Tribute to Ex-PDP Chairman

Bamanga Tukur Dies at 90, Tinubu Pays Tribute to Ex-PDP Chairman 

 

President Bola Tinubu has mourned the death of former Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Bamanga Mohammed Tukur, describing the former governor and minister as a towering statesman whose footprints cut across Nigeria’s political, economic and business history.

Tukur, who also served as governor of the old Gongola State and Minister of Industries, died on Saturday at the age of 90.

In a condolence statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said Tukur’s long career in public administration, governance, industry, politics and pan-African business leadership made him an important figure in Nigeria’s national development.

 

Born on September 15, 1935, Tukur served as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority between 1975 and 1982, where the President credited him with contributing to the development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.

 

He later ventured into partisan politics and was elected governor of the old Gongola State in 1983, before the state was eventually split into the present Adamawa and Taraba states.

 

Paying tribute to the deceased, Tinubu described Tukur as “urbane, generous and deeply rooted in the values of integrity and service that the Adamawa Emirate and the nation hold dear.”

 

He added, “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.”

 

Beyond public office, Tukur established a strong presence in the private sector as Chairman of BHI Holdings and the DADDO Group of Companies, with business interests spanning manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and trading.

 

He also contributed to African economic integration and business advocacy, serving as Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group.

 

At the political level, Tukur became National Chairman of the PDP in March 2012, serving until January 2014 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

 

Tinubu extended his condolences to the Tukur family, the Fombina Emirate, the Adamawa State Government and the political and business communities in Nigeria and across Africa.

 

He prayed to Allah to forgive the deceased’s shortcomings, grant him Aljannah Firdaus and give his family and other mourners the strength to bear the loss.

 

The family had earlier announced Tukur’s death in a statement signed by his son, Hon. Awwal D. Tukur.