* Saraki pays tribute
A former presidential candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in the 1993 election, Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, is dead.
He reportedly died as a result of brief illness in the early hours of Monday at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. He was 74 years old.
In the 1993 presidential election, he contested against Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who was the presumed winner of the election.
The Ibrahim Babangida military regime annulled the election, sparking nationwide protests.
Tofa was a businessman, an oil trader and industrialist.
He was chairman of International Petro-Energy Company (IPEC) and Abba Othman and Sons ltd.
He was also involved as a board member in Impex Ventures, Century Merchant Bank and General Metal Products ltd.
He was also involved as a board member in Impex Ventures, Century Merchant Bank and General Metal Products ltd.
He had his primary education at Shahuci Junior Primary, Kano and then continued studies at City Senior Primary School in Kano.
From 1962 to 1966, he attended Provincial College, Kano.
After completing his studies at the Provincial school, he worked for Royal Exchange Insurance company from 1967 to 1968.
From 1970 to 1973, he attended City of London College.
Tofa’s sojourn into politics started in 1976 when he was a councilor of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Council.
In 1977, he was elected a member into the Constituent Assembly.
During the Second Republic, Tofa was at various times the secretary of the Kano branch of NPN.
He later became the party’s national financial secretary and was a national member of the Green Revolution National Committee.
During the Third Republic, he was part of the Liberal Movement which metamorphosed to Liberal Convention when it was not registered as a political party. Tofa joined NRC in 1990.
In 1993, when the Babangida administration introduced the Option A4 system, Tofa was elected the presidential candidate.
During the party primaries, he defeated Pere Ajunwa, Joe Nwodo and Dalhatu Tafida to clinch the NRC ticket.
He was an ally of Halilu Akilu, the security chief at the time.
His running mate in the election was Sylvester Ugoh, an Igbo and a former governor of the now defunct Central Bank of Biafra.
Both were members of the defunct National Party of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has expressed sadness over the death of Alhaji Tofa.
Saraki described the deceased as an industrialist and a good leader who had contributed to the development of the country.
In a post on his verified Facebook page, Saraki prayed that Almighty Allah gives the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss.
He wrote: “Industrialist, politician, and thought leader, during his incredible lifetime, Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa contributed tremendously towards the development of Nigeria.
“Today, as we join the nation to mourn the passing of this great man, we pray that Almighty Allah gives the family that he has left behind peace and solace, and grants Alhaji Tofa a place amongst the righteous ones in Al Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.”