A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who turned 80 on Tuesday, has quit partisan politics.
He made the announcement during a lecture organised to mark his birthday in Abuja.
Tukur said, “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. It is time to rest. 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.”
The ex-PDP chairman, claimed to have introduced internal democracy, party discipline and party supremacy during his short-lived tenure, said his doors were open to politicians, business men and other Nigerians who might seek his advice or opinion on issues affecting the country.
He enjoined politicians to play the game according to the rules and to have the interest of the country at heart, stressing that politics should be seen as an avenue for rendering service to the country.
Tukur continued, “Politics should not be a bread and butter affair. All politicians should rededicate themselves to the service of the people.
“Elected officers and government officials should regard their positions as sacred trust and it must be used to serve the nation and no more.
“My nation has given me so much. It is now pay-back time. I want to rededicate my time, life and resources to the service of our nation as an elder statesman and father.
“My aim is to help take Nigeria to the land of promise, to make her truly great and to ensure that she assumes her rightful position in the comity of nations.
“I want Nigeria to be truly great in line with the dream of her founding fathers in my life time.”
He called on Nigerians to support the Muhammadu Buhari administration, saying there should be peace in all facets and organs of government for country to move forward.
Buhari had earlier extolled the exemplary political maturity and commitment to national peace and development displayed by Tukur in being one of the first to congratulate him after his victory in the March 28 presidential elections.
Tukur was forced to resign as PDP chairman on January 15, 2014, after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, seven governors and some members of the National Assembly walked out of the party’s convention to declare a ‘New PDP’ with Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje as its chairman.
