Tag Archives: Bamanga Tukur

Ex-NRC Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, Denies Involvement In Railway Contracts

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A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, has absolved himself from the award of railway contracts while serving as the Board Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

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Tukur made this known to the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the Ministry of Transport and the NRC over the award of railway contracts from 2010 to 2014.

 

 

According to Tukur, the Procurement Act excluded the NRC Board from participating in the award of railway contracts.

 

“The Board which I chaired was never involved in any contract award and was never told or invited to participate in issues of contract award or financial disbursement.’’

 

Turkur added that throughout his tenure as the NRC Board Chairman, no issue of contract award of any amount or tune was discussed or awarded by the board.

 

Another Chairman of the Board, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, said that he was not privileged to appoint any consultant or award contracts for the railway projects.

 

“We only played the role of inspection because the Procurement Act excluded the board from participating in any contract.’’

 

He expressed worry that the country’s railway transportation system had suffered neglect in spite of its critical role in the development of the economy.

 

Baraje, who was also a former National Chairman of PDP, said that more attention should be given to the 25-year railway modernisation plan to boost transportation in the country.

 

Also Sen. Ladan Shuni, another former Board Chairman of the NRC, wondered the essence of inaugurating a board that lacked the capacity to oversight the award of contracts.

 

Earlier, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, urged the ad hoc committee to ascertain the quality of contractors who won the contracts.

 

“In view of the billions of naira sunk into the railway project, the committee must ascertain the quality of contractors awarded these contracts.

“The jobs done must show value for the money.’’

 

 

He said that railway transportation was three times more efficient and environmentally friendly than other means of transportation.

 

 

The Chairman of the ad hoc Committee, Rep. Johnson Agbonayinma (PDP-Edo), said that Nigeria lost N450 billion annually due to the poor state of railway infrastructure.

 

“The contributions of transport to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been on the downward trend due to the poor state of our rails, resulting to economic losses to the tune of N450 billion annually.

 

 

(NAN)

Ex-PDP chairman, Bamanga Tukur, quits politics at 80

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Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, during his 80th birthday lecture on Tuesday announced his retirement from partisan politics.

 

Giving a speech at a lecture organised to mark his 80th birthday, Tukur said he had done his best for the former ruling party and that it was time for him to retire from partisan politics.

 

“I deem it fit to use this opportunity of my 80th birthday celebration to announce my retirement from partisan politics.

“It is time to say goodbye to formal politics. I have used several political platforms to serve my country.

“I leave partisan politics for the younger generation. I want to be a statesman and an adviser.

“At the age of 80, I feel I can serve our dear nation more in the capacity of a statesman and father-figure,” he said.

 

Tukur, nevertheless, said his doors would remain open to all politicians, business men, business women and Nigerians who might seek his advice or opinion on any issue affecting the country and beyond.

“I want to re-dedicate my time, life and resources to the service of our nation as an elder statesman and father.”

He also said Nigeria had given him so much and that “it is now pay-back time.

 

Tukur said that during his short-lived tenure as the chairman of the party, he tried to make sanity to prevail in the party’s affairs by introducing internal democracy, party discipline and party supremacy.

 

These, he said, remained the ingredients of strong party systems which he said ‘’drive the democratic process.’’

 

According to the former governor of the old Gongola State, which now comprises Adamawa and Taraba states, defections from one political party to the other must be checkmated.

President Buhari felicitates with Bamanga Tukur on his 80th birthday

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President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, one of Nigeria’s foremost entrepreneur, political leader and elder statesman, as he celebrates his 80th birthday today, Sept. 15.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Mr Femi Adesina the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

According to the statement, Buhari joins Tukur’s family, friends, associates and well-wishers in rejoicing with him as he marks another notable milestone in a very worthy and fulfilled life.

“The president seizes the opportunity of the Tafidan Adamawa’s 80th birthday to reaffirm the nation’s enduring gratitude for his significant contributions to Nigeria’s political and socio-economic development over many years,’’ the statement said.

Buhari commended Tukur’s diligent and patriotic service to his community, state and country as a public servant, political leader and accomplished businessman of international repute.

He also extolled the exemplary political maturity and commitment to national peace and development displayed by the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.

He noted that Tukur was one of the first to congratulate him after his victory in the March 28 presidential election.

 

The president prayed that “Almighty Allah will bless Tukur with many more years of good health and the company of his loving family and numerous friends within and outside Nigeria.’’

 

-(NAN)