President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mourned the death of elder statesman, renowned businessman and former governor of the old Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, who died at the age of 90.
Tukur, the Tafidan Adamawa, was described by the President as a towering figure whose death marked the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigeria’s political and economic history.
In a statement, President Tinubu said the late Tukur’s distinguished career spanned public administration, governance, industry, politics and pan-African business leadership.
Born on September 15, 1935, Tukur rose to national prominence when he served as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) from 1975 to 1982, where he contributed to the modernisation of port operations and the development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The former governor later ventured into politics during the Second Republic and was elected governor of the old Gongola State in 1983. The state was subsequently divided into what are now Adamawa and Taraba states.
Tukur also made his mark in the private sector as Chairman of BHI Holdings and the DADDO Group of Companies, businesses with interests in manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and trading.
He further served as Federal Minister of Industries under the military administration of General Sani Abacha from 1993 to 1995.
On the continental stage, Tukur was recognised as an advocate of Africa’s economic development. As Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, he championed intra-African trade, private sector-led growth and sustainable development.
His political career also saw him serve as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from March 2012 to January 2014.
President Tinubu recalled Tukur’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development during his tenure as PDP chairman, particularly his efforts towards party discipline and consensus-building.
The President described the deceased as “urbane, generous and deeply rooted in the values of integrity and service” cherished by the Adamawa Emirate and Nigeria.
“Alhaji Tukur 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 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 the shortcomings of the deceased, grant him Aljannah Firdaus and comfort his family and all those mourning his death.
