Ex-PDP chair Bamanga Tukur dies at 90

Bamanga Tukur, a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and presidential aspirant in the Third Republic, has passed away at the age of 90.

Family sources confirmed Mr Tukur’s passing on Saturday, though detailed circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately made public.

Born on 15 September, 1935, Mr Tukur was a politician and public administrator. He served as governor of the defunct Gongola State—which encompassed present-day Adamawa and Taraba states—during the Nigerian Second Republic.

Mr Tukur’s career in public service began at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), where he served as General Manager from 1975 to 1982. He subsequently transitioned into elective politics, winning the Gongola gubernatorial election in 1983.

His tenure was cut short by the military coup d’état in December of that year.

Following his departure from public office, Mr Tukur expanded his footprint in the private sector, founding BHI Holdings (popularly known as the DADDO Group of Companies).

He returned to federal service between 1993 and 1995 as Minister of Industries under the military administration of General Sani Abacha.

Mr Tukur played a pivotal role in shaping continental economic policy. He presided over the African Business Roundtable as Executive President and chaired the NEPAD Business Group, alongside advisory roles with several international trade organisations.

In March 2012, Mr Tukur was elected PDP National Chairman with the backing of then-President Goodluck Jonathan.

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He held the position until January 2014, when he resigned following prolonged internal factional disputes within the party.

Mr Tukur held the title of Tafidan Adamawa.

In recognition of his service to the nation, the federal government bestowed upon him national honours, including Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). He was also awarded Commander of the Order of the Mono (COM) by the Republic of Togo.