Shettima Leads FG Delegation To Adamawa Over Bamanga Tukur’s Death

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Yola, Adamawa State, leading a Federal Government delegation on a condolence visit to the family of late elder statesman and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Muhammad Tukur.

Shettima’s visit was at the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to a post via social media on Thursday, September 17, by Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President’s media aide, Shettima was received at the Aliyu Mustapha International Airport, Yola, by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, and members of the state executive council.

Nkwocha said the visit followed the death of Tukur, a former Governor of old Gongola State and prominent businessman whose contributions to public service and Africa’s business community spanned several decades.

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The statement described Tukur as a “late elder statesman” and “Tafidan Adamawa”, noting his long-standing contributions to public service and business.

The Federal Government delegation includes the Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress, Ali Bukar Dalori; former Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali; and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia.

Also on the delegation is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel.

Others include Hon. Abdulrazaq Sa’ad Namdas; Sarkin Gabas Adamawa, Dr Mahmood Halilu Ahmed (Modi); and APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, among others.

TVC News Online had earlier reported that Tukur died three days before his 91st birthday.

The late elder statesman is survived by two wives and 18 children, including Awwal Tukur, the Secretary to the Adamawa State Government.

Born on September 15, 1935, he served as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority from 1975 to 1982, where the President said he contributed to the modernisation of port operations and Nigeria’s maritime sector.

Tukur later ventured into politics during the Second Republic and was elected Governor of the old Gongola State in 1983. The state was later divided into Adamawa and Taraba states.

He also served as Federal Minister of Industries under the administration of General Sani Abacha from 1993 to 1995.

In the private sector, Tukur was Chairman of 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 advocated intra-African trade, private sector-led growth and sustainable development.

Tukur also served as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from March 2012 to January 2014.