Former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has expressed shock over the death of Bashir Tofa, former Presidential candidate under the defunct National Republican Convention, NRC.
Tofa, who contested for the Presidential seat against Chief MKO Abiola on June 12, 1993, died Monday morning after a brief illness. Abiola was widely believed to have won that election which was annulled by Military President Ibrahim Babangida.
Kwankwaso took to his Twitter account to mourn the political icon, describing his death as a shock.
“I received with shock, but with gratitude to Almighty Allah, the passage of one of the Nation’s eminent sons and nationalist, Alhaji Bashir Tofa.
“He returned to his Creator at a time the Nation needed his experience and counselling.
“We, the people of Kano State, will miss him dearly.
“Alhaji Tofa was a man of honour who put service to the people ahead and above personal self-interest.
” As a candidate on the ballot of the annulled June 12 election, his actions distinguished him as a Nationalist who loves Nigeria.
” I am pained by his exit but what we can collectively do as Nigerians to immortalize him is to ensure that we strive for good leadership at all times.
“We must always be the right compass with which current & future leaders would navigate through for the betterment of our people.
“I pray to Allah to forgive him his shortcomings an also reward him with Aljanah firdausi”, he concluded.