General News
END OF AN ERA: NSF PAYS TRIBUTE TO ALH. BAMANGA TUKUR, TAFIDAN ADAMAWA, AT 90
The Northern Senators Forum mourns the passing of a great son of the North and Nigeria, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, who died at the age of 90.
This was contained in a statement by
Sen. Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua,
Chairman of the Forum
Alhaji Tukur embodied the very best of northern leadership. From his pioneering work as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority from 1975 to 1982, to his election as Governor of the old Gongola State in 1983, he set a standard of institution-building and welfarism that inspired a generation.
His service as Federal Minister of Industries from 1993 to 1995 and later as National Chairman of the PDP from 2012 to 2014 further affirmed his commitment to governance, party discipline and national unity.
Beyond public office, the late Tafidan Adamawa was a titan of enterprise and Pan-African vision. As Chairman of BHI Holdings and DADDO Group, he invested in manufacturing, agriculture and logistics, creating opportunities for Nigerians.
As Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, he championed intra-African trade and private sector-led development, projecting Nigeria’s economic voice across the continent and globally. His counsel was sought by leaders at home and abroad.
What distinguished Alhaji Tukur most was his character. He was generous, urbane, and guided by integrity and service — values central to the Adamawa Emirate and the North. He was a mentor to many of us in politics and business, a statesman who chose consensus over conflict, and a patriot who never doubted Nigeria’s potential.
His traditional titles and national honours, including the Commander of the Order of the Niger and the Commander of the Order of Mono — the highest national honour in the Republic of Togo accorded to a foreigner — stand as testament to a life dedicated to people and nation.
On behalf of the Northern Senators Forum, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Tukur family, the Fombina Emirate, the Government and people of Adamawa State, and indeed all Nigerians.
We pray that Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, grant him Aljannah Firdaus, and grant his family and all who mourn him the strength to bear this great loss. May the legacy of his patriotism, statesmanship and mentorship continue to guide the North and Nigeria for generations to come.
