By Esther Yakubu
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.
In a condolence message on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described Tukur’s death as the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigeria’s political and economic history.
The President said the late Tafidan Adamawa was a towering figure whose career spanned public administration, governance, industry, politics and pan-African business leadership.
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.
He 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 present-day Adamawa and Taraba states.
Tukur also 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 served as Federal Minister of Industries under the military administration of General Sani Abacha from 1993 to 1995.
On the continental stage, Tukur championed Africa’s economic development as Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, where he advocated intra-African trade, private sector-led growth and sustainable development.
He was also National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from March 2012 to January 2014.
Tinubu said Tukur made significant contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development through his efforts to promote party discipline and consensus-building.
The President described the deceased as an urbane and generous statesman who remained committed to integrity, service and Nigeria’s development.
“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,” Tinubu said.
The President extended his condolences to the Tukur family, the Fombina Emirate of Adamawa, the Adamawa State Government and people, as well as the political and business communities in Nigeria and across Africa.
Tinubu prayed that Almighty Allah would forgive Tukur’s shortcomings, grant him Aljannah Firdaus and comfort his family and all those mourning his death.
