Ibori mourns Bamanga Tukur, calls him man of accomplishments

Former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, has mourned the death of former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, describing him as a man of outstanding accomplishments.

Tukur, a former governor of the old Gongola State, died at the age of 90 and was buried in Yola on Sunday.

He also served as Minister of Industries during the military administration of the late General Sani Abacha.

In a condolence statement personally signed by him on Sunday, Ibori described Tukur as a patriotic Nigerian who served the country with distinction in various capacities.

He said the late politician’s contributions extended beyond politics to business and public service, adding that Tukur was a leader who believed in creating opportunities for younger Nigerians to emerge and contribute to national development.

Ibori recalled that Tukur demonstrated his commitment to generational change when he marked his 80th birthday and announced his decision to withdraw from partisan politics.

“He announced that he was quitting partisan politics to give room to younger ones and remain a statesman and adviser,” Ibori recalled.

The former Delta governor also recounted his early political association with Tukur, revealing that he worked in the late politician’s presidential campaign organisation in 1992.

“I worked in his campaign organisation as a Local Government Coordinator in 1992 when he was contesting the presidency, after I contested and lost my House of Representatives election in 1991 under the NRC,” he said.

“He was contesting the presidency under the NRC alongside Adamu Ciroma, Umaru Shinkafi and others,” he added.

Ibori said Tukur’s wealth of experience and knowledge of Nigeria’s political history made his death a significant loss to the country.

“Nigeria has lost one of its finest gentlemen, whose wealth of experience and deep knowledge of our national history will be missed,” he said.

He added that Tukur’s absence would be particularly felt as the country moves towards another general election.

“We will miss his wise counsel, especially as we are moving towards a general election,” Ibori said.