Tofa Dies, Buried In Kano

By Uche Mbah

Twenty nine years after he was widely believed to have lost to Chief Moshood Abiola in the June 12 1993 Presidential election, the remains of Bashir Tofa, the then Presidential flag bearer of the National Republican Convention, NRC, was laid to rest in a public cemetery in Kano.

Tofa reportedly passed on at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano Monday. He was aged 74.

Tofa was said to have been recovering from a brief illness when he suddenly  relapsed, and died.

The Cemetery was a Hajj Camp public cemetery.

His last journey started from his residence at  Gandun Albasa with the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, performing his funeral prayers.

Ibrahim Shekarau, a former Governor and close associate and former Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono, were spotted at his funeral with other dignitaries.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, in a statement, signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, said that Alhaji Tofa became a Councilor at an early age and never slowed down until his death.

According to him, Tofa was a leader and a philanthropist.

“The legacy of his political beliefs and triumphs will be important footnotes in the literature of Nigeria’s government and politics for generations yet to come.”

“He was a great man, a quintessential democrat and outstanding statesman who has left very bold prints both on the politics and political history of Nigeria” “the statement said.