Hours after the death of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the demise has reignited the factional crisis rocking the party.
The factions, led by Tanimu Turaki and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, issued separate statements to mourn the nonagenarian former Governor of the defunct Gongola State.
National Publicity Secretary of Wike’s faction, Jungudo Mohammed, in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, described Tukur as a distinguished statesman, elder, administrator, businessman and committed member of PDP.
Mohammed said the deceased was a towering figure whose remarkable public service career spanned several decades.
“His death is indeed a profound loss to the nation, given his decades of service and contributions to Nigeria’s political, economic and democratic development,” he said.
Mohammed noted that Tukur served as Chief Executive/General Manager of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), governor of defunct Gongola State from October to December 1983 and subsequently as Minister of Industry.
“Beyond his contributions to public administration, Alhaji Tukur also distinguished himself in the private sector and international business community.
“This included his service as President of the Africa Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, among other important responsibilities.
“He was elected National Chairman of PDP in 2012, and led the party until his resignation in January 2014.
“As a committed member and leader of the PDP, Alhaji Tukur played significant roles in the affairs and development of the party,” he said.
Mohammed recalled that Tukur’s tenure as PDP national chairman was at a significant period in the political history of the party and the nation.
He said that the late elder statesman brought to the PDP leadership his wealth of experience, institutional knowledge and long-standing commitment to public service and democratic development.
“The PDP deeply mourns his passing and recognises his contributions to the growth of the party, the strengthening of democratic governance and the development of Nigeria,” he said.
He extended the party’s heartfelt condolences to Tukur’s family, relatives, friends, associates, the people of Adamawa and the entire PDP family across the country.
In its own statement, the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee described Tukur as a man of many parts whose political profile was as rich as his professional record.
The faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, in the statement, acknowledged the prominent roles played by Tukur in shaping policies and projects in various sectors of the Nigerian economy, particularly ports administration, international trade and industries.
Ememobong also noted that Tukur served as governor of defunct Gongola State, in addition to holding several other high-ranking political and public offices.
“His death at the age of 90, though painful to us, his political family, is viewed by us as a statesman’s farewell.
“During our last interaction with him a few months ago, he specifically reiterated his unflinching belief in PDP as the truly national party capable of providing solutions to Nigeria’s challenges, and charged our National Chairman, Turaki, to keep the flag of the party flying.
“We join his many admirers to mourn his passing and condole with his family”, Ememobong said.
