Tinubu mourns elder statesman, ex-Gongola governor Bamanga Tukur

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condoled with the family of elder statesman, renowned businessman and former Governor of the old Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, who died at the age of 90.

Tinubu, in a condolence message, described the death of the Tafidan Adamawa as the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigeria’s political and economic history.

The President said Tukur was a towering figure whose career spanned public administration, governance, industry, politics and pan-African business leadership.

Born on Sept. 15, 1935, Tukur rose to national prominence as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority from 1975 to 1982, where he contributed to the modernisation of port operations and 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. He subsequently distinguished himself in the private sector as Chairman of BHI Holdings and DADDO Group of Companies, with interests in manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and trading.

Tukur also served as Federal Minister of Industries under the administration of former military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, from 1993 to 1995, and was Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party from March 2012 to January 2014.

On the continental stage, the President said Tukur was an advocate of Africa’s economic renaissance, having served 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.

Tinubu 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.

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