Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur, has died at the age of 90.
Gatekeepers News reports that Tukur died on Saturday, September 12, three days before his 91st birthday, his family announced. He was born on September 15, 1935, in Adamawa State.
The former politician and businessman served in several prominent public positions during his career. He was governor of the old Gongola State in 1983 before the military coup that brought the Second Republic to an end.
Tukur also served as general manager and chief executive of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) from 1975 to 1982. He later returned to government as Minister of Industries under the military administration of former Head of State, Sani Abacha, between 1993 and 1995.
In March 2012, Tukur was elected national chairman of the PDP, a position he held until his resignation in January 2014 amid internal disagreements within the party.
Beyond politics, he was involved in business and continental economic affairs. He founded BHI Holdings, also known as the Daddo Group, and served as executive president of the Africa Business Roundtable and chairman of the NEPAD Business Group. He also became the first African vice-president of the International Association of Ports and Harbours.
President Bola Tinubu mourned Tukur, describing him as a “towering figure” whose career spanned public administration, governance, business, politics and pan-African economic leadership.
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri also described the death as a loss to the state and Nigeria, while commending Tukur’s contributions to the country’s political and economic development.
The family has announced that Tukur will be buried in Yola, Adamawa State, on Sunday, September 13, after funeral prayers at the Lamido’s Palace at 10am. He is survived by two wives and 18 children, including Awwal Tukur, Secretary to the Adamawa State Government.
