The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has expressed sadness at the death of its former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, describing his passing at the age of 90 as the farewell of a statesman who made significant contributions to Nigeria’s political and economic development.
The party said Tukur’s death had left its members in Nigeria and the diaspora deeply saddened, while paying tribute to his contributions to the nation’s ports administration, international trade, industries and other sectors of the economy.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Interim National Working Committee, Comrade Ini Ememobong, on Saturday, the PDP said Tukur remained a prominent figure whose political career was matched by an accomplished professional record.
According to the statement, Tukur served as Governor of the old Gongola State and occupied several other high-ranking political and public offices during his lifetime, contributing to the formulation of policies and execution of projects across various sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The party described him as “a man of many parts” whose influence extended beyond partisan politics, noting that his public service record and political profile established him as a statesman of considerable standing.
The PDP said his death, although painful to his political family, was regarded as “a statesman’s farewell”, particularly because of his continued commitment to the party until his final years.
The party recalled that during its last interaction with Tukur a few months ago, he reaffirmed his “unflinching belief” in the PDP as the truly national party capable of providing solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
It added that Tukur had used the occasion to charge the party’s National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, SAN, to sustain the PDP and “keep the flag of the party flying.”
The PDP extended its condolences to Tukur’s family and joined his admirers across the country in mourning the former party chairman.
“His death at the age of 90, though painful to us, his political family, is viewed by us as a statesman’s farewell,” the party said.
