SHETTIMA LEADS FEDERAL DELEGATION TO ADAMAWA TO MOURN BAMANGA TUKUR

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Yola, Adamawa State, leading a Federal Government delegation on a condolence visit to the family of former Governor of old Gongola State and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, who died three days before his 91st birthday.

The visit was undertaken at the request of President Bola Tinubu. Shettima was received at the Aliyu Mustapha International Airport in Yola by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and members of the state executive council. The visit followed Tukur’s death and was aimed at conveying the Federal Government’s condolences to his family and recognising his contributions to public service and business.

The Federal Government delegation included APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori; former Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President in the Office of the Vice President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel. Others were Hon. Abdulrazaq Sa’ad Namdas, Sarkin Gabas Adamawa, Dr Mahmood Halilu Ahmed (Modi), and APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, among others.

Tukur, known as Tafidan Adamawa, was born on September 15, 1935. He served as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority from 1975 to 1982, later becoming Governor of the old Gongola State in 1983. He also served as Federal Minister of Industries under the administration of General Sani Abacha from 1993 to 1995 and was National Chairman of the PDP from March 2012 to January 2014.

Beyond government, Tukur was a prominent businessman who chaired BHI Holdings and the DADDO Group of Companies, with interests in manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and trading. At the continental level, he served as Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, where he promoted intra-African trade and private-sector-led development. He is survived by two wives and 18 children, including Awwal Tukur, the Secretary to the Adamawa State Government.