Ibori mourns Bamanga Tukur, calls him man of accomplishments

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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.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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“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.

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

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

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

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

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

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