Tukur, a business mogul, served as Federal Minister of Industries under the administration of General Sani Abacha from 1993 to 1995.
By Kehinde Okeowo
President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the passing of elder statesman, renowned businessman, and former governor of the old Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who passed away on Saturday.
He joined many Nigerians to mourn and eulogise the politician, who passed away just three days before his 91st birthday, in a statement issued by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga.
While hailing the former governor, Tinubu described his death as the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigeria’s political and economic history.
He added that Alhaji Tukur was a towering figure whose distinguished career spanned public administration, governance, industry, politics, and pan-African business leadership.
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Tinubu recalled Tukur’s colourful foray into politics during the Second Republic, which led to his election as Governor of the old Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba States) in 1983.
He said: “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.”
Born on 15 September 1935, Alhaji Tukur rose to national prominence as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority from 1975 to 1982, where he helped modernise port operations and improve Nigeria’s maritime sector.
He further distinguished himself in the private sector as Chairman of BHI Holdings and the DADDO Group of Companies—conglomerates with interests in manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, and trading—and served as Federal Minister of Industries under the administration of General Sani Abacha from 1993 to 1995.
On the continental stage, Alhaji Tukur was an eloquent champion of Africa’s economic renaissance. As Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, he was a relentless advocate for intra-African trade, private sector-led growth, and sustainable development.
Tukur was the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from March 2012 to January 2014, during which President Tinubu recalled Tukur’s sterling contributions to democracy through enforcing party discipline and building consensus.
