A member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ugochukwu Okeke, has mourned the death of former National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
Okeke, in a condolence statement, described Tukur as a political titan of his generation whose footprints were visible across several chapters of Nigeria’s political and economic history.
Tukur was also a former governor of old Gongola State and elder statesman.
Okeke said he received the news of Tukur’s death with a profound sense of loss, recalling that he encountered the former PDP national chairman during the party’s 2013 governorship primaries.
According to him, Tukur was the national chairman of the party at the time and stood at the centre of the primary process.
He said Tukur bore an enormous responsibility in managing a major political party with competing interests, strong personalities and ambitious aspirants.
“Yet, amidst the contest and intense political activity of that period, he superintended the affairs of the party at the national level and contributed to sustaining its structure, strength and broad support base,” Okeke said.
He described Tukur as a member of a generation of Nigerian public figures whose careers traversed politics, public administration, business and national service.
Okeke noted that Tukur served as governor of old Gongola State, General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority and Minister of Industries, as well as having significant engagements in African business and investment circles.
He said although Tukur’s political journey was not without difficult moments, history would ultimately judge him by the breadth of his contribution, the responsibilities he carried and his role in institution building.
“For me, however, the passing of Bamanga Tukur is also a reminder that political seasons come and go, contests are eventually settled, offices are relinquished, but the memories of those who played significant roles in our journeys remain,” he said.
Okeke extended his condolences to Tukur’s family, the people of Adamawa, his associates and the entire PDP family.
He prayed that Almighty God would grant Tukur eternal rest and give those he left behind the strength to bear the loss.
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