Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Bamanga Tukur takes stock of his life at 80, saying it is time to play the statesman. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI examines the political career of the octogenarian, who is one of the founding members of the former ruling party.
ELDER statesman and former Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Bamanga Tukur chose the occasion of his 80th birthday celebration to say goodbye to partisan politics. One of the founding fathers of the PDP, Tukur who entered politics during the Second Republic in 1983, when he contested and won the governorship election of the defunct Gongola State on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), has indeed carved a niche for himself in the field.
But, the man under whose tenure the PDP broke up, believes he has had enough and, therefore, wants to leave partisan politics for the younger generation. In his address entitled: ‘The Historical Background and Realities of My Earthly Sojourn, So Far,” Tukur said: “It is time to say goodbye to formal politics. I have used several political platforms to serve my country. It is time to rest. At the age of 80, I feel I can serve our dear nation more in the capacity of a statesman and father figure.”
He, however, said his doors were open to all politicians, business men, business women, “and all Nigerians who may seek my advice or opinion on any issue affecting our country or beyond.”
On his experiences in politics, particularly his tenure as the PDP chairman, Tukur said he worked hard to entrench internal democracy, party discipline and party supremacy. He enjoined politicians to see politics and government positions as avenues for rendering service to the country and not a bread and butter affair, adding that elected officers and government officials should regard their positions as sacred trust to be used to serve the nation.
His words: “I wish to enjoin politicians to play the game according to the rules and to take the interest of the country to heart. I had the privilege of serving as the national chairman of the party during which I tried to introduce sanity in the party affairs. I introduced the idea of internal democracy, party discipline and party supremacy. These are the great ingredients of strong party systems which ultimately drive the democratic process.
“Perhaps, on account of the long period of military reign in Nigeria, politicians have not yet internalised and applied the principle of internal party democracy. I hope that with time, party democracy will be entrenched in our political party system as this strengthens our nascent democracy. Politicians should avail themselves of their constitutional right to assemble with anybody or political party.
“But, the need to checkmate frequency of defections from one political party to the other can hardly be overstressed. Political parties are stronger when members submit themselves to the rules and regulations of the party and subscribe faithfully to it ideologies.
“Our political parties should strive to have concrete ideologies as this will certainly help to curtail unmitigated defections in the system for a strong party breeds a strong government. A strong government breeds strong economy. A strong economy brings development, peace and security.”
Though the PDP was not represented at Tukur’s birthday celebration, it later issued a statement describing the former chairman as a quintessential democrat and humble statesman, who contributed immensely to the development and stability of the nation. The statement added: “It remains proud that the octogenarian, who is one of its founding fathers, has made indelible marks in business and politics within and outside the country”.
The message, which was signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, noted that the party remains grateful to Tukur for his leadership roles and sustained selfless contributions since its formation.
Tukur would be remembered in political circles as the man who paved the way for the crisis that engulfed the former ruling PDP prior to the 2015 general elections. He fell out of favour with party stakeholders when he tried to rein in the powers of the state governors under the platform of the party, who dictated the pace of events even at the national level. His position on the way the party should run pitched him against seven of the serving governors then, who demanded for his immediate resignation as National Chairman. The governors are: Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto; Abdulfatih Ahmed of Kwara; Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano; Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers; Aliyu Babangida of Niger; Sule Lamido of Jigawa; and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa.
The crises under him got to a climax when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and six northern governors staged a walk out during the Special National Convention held August 2013. This development eventually split the party into two parallel National Working Committees (NWCs). Five of the governors that fought him eventually defected to the APC. Some days later, 37 members of the House of Representatives also left the PDP to join the APC, while 27 out of the 30 members of the Sokoto State House of Assembly also jilted the former ruling party.
Tukur, who emerged National Chairman at the party’s Special National Convention held in March 2012, was compelled to resign on January 15, 2014 to save himself and the party from further embarrassment. He was said to have lost the confidence of key party stakeholders, like the governors, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), the 36 state chairmen plus the chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), elders, and leaders.
Before he eventually capitulated, Tukur had persistently denied media reports at the time that he was being pressured to resign from office. But, he had no other option. In his resignation letter dated January 15, 2014, Tukur said he was resigning in the overall interest of the party. “I remain available to offer my contributions accordingly to the party, whenever it is needed. Thank you and please accept the assurances of my highest esteem always,” he added.
Announcing Tukur’s resignation at the party’s 63rd NEC meeting, former President Goodluck Jonathan noted that the former party leader agreed to step aside to allow peace to return to the ‘family’. The former President said it was a personal sacrifice for the party to reinvent itself in the face of emerging challenges. Jonathan added that Tukur was not guilty of breach of the party’s constitution.
According to political observers, Tukur stepped on many toes within the hierarchy of the party. Members of the NWC alleged that after Tukur assumed office he started running the party without carrying them along. They said he no longer convened meetings of the committee. Rather than settling down to face his assignment of leading a national party with national problems, Tukur was also accused of dabbling into the politics of his home state by dissolving the Adamawa PDP Executive Committee led by Alhaji Umaru Kugama that was loyal to former Governor Nyako and replacing it with a nine-member Caretaker Committee Umar Damagun.
Tukur’s non-recognition of Amaechi as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), apparently at the behest of the Presidency, was another sore point. The former National Chairman encouraged the formation of the Governor Godswill Akpabio-led PDP-Governors Forum as a counterpoise to the NGF, notwithstanding that Amaechi won the NGF election. Later, Tukur backed a faction of the body led by former Governor Jonah Jang.
According to observers, Tukur’s greatest undoing was that he deluded himself that once he had the support of the former President and the First lady, he could do with the party and its members as it pleased his whims and caprices. But, when it became obvious that his excesses posed a threat to Jonathan’s re-election, the former President withdrew that protection and Tukur capitulated.
The current development, according to observers, is strategy by the Adamawa-born politician cum businessman to reposition himself and continue to remain relevant. He appeared to have gradually stepped into his new role in recent times. Speaking as a guest on a political programme on radio last month, Tukur ascribed the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the centre to the quest by Nigerians for alternative to a failed party.
He said: “Democracy is government of the people by the people for the people. So, if the PDP fails to deliver on its promises, people will go to the alternative. Change is always good, provided it is going to bring better alternative.” The former chairman, who blamed the PDP’s woes on lack of internal democracy, said certain people in the party didn’t want him to practice internal democracy that he was preaching.
On the contrary, the former governor of Old Gongola State noted that the APC, by making all the elements relevant and allowing the people choose their leaders through elections, allowed the democratic system to prevail for the interest of all.
Recalling the political machinations that led to his exit as the National Chairman, Tukur said: “Jonathan did not insist I leave the party; there are people in the PDP who felt I should not practice what I preach. President Jonathan could not protect me due to the powers of the governors. The governors are very powerful and therefore, if you do not do what they want, you are done away with and I believe nothing can be done to them.
“I was accused of being a virus in the PDP, and I did not deny it. I told them I am a virus for good governance, virus for internal democracy, virus for equity and justice. I hope that virus will continue.”
Born on September 15, 1935, Tukur is a prominent businessman and politician. He served as Minister of Industry in the administration of General Sani Abacha. He is one of the high profile civil servants and military officers who acquired large areas of farmland along the various River Basin authorities. He was President of the Africa Business Roundtable.
He came to national limelight in the mid 1970s, as the general manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority. It was a time the agency was having problems with congestion as a result of a massive cement importation scheme that was started at the twilight of Yakubu Gowon’s administration. During his tenure, the government built a few more seaports to ease the transaction cost associated with shipping and to ensure adequate facilities for Nigeria’s import and export needs.
In 1982, he left his position as General Manager and soon contested the Gongola governorship race, which he won. Tukur served as governor for three months before the democratic administration was curtailed by a military coup. After leaving the Gongola State House, he entered full scale entrepreneurship, and was the founder and chairman of BHI holdings. In 1992, he was an unsuccessful presidential candidate for the National Republican Convention (NRC), during which he and a few rivals of Adamu Ciroma lobbied for the cancellation of the first primary due to allegations of favouritism levelled against the leadership of the party.
Tukur attended the popular London school of Economics, where he read Transportation and Economics in 1965. He went on to obtain a master’s degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburg in the United States. Upon his return to Nigeria, he was appointed to manage Lagos ports.
