Things We Know and Don’t Know About Late Bashir Tofa
By Sani Ibrahim Paki
Alhaji Bashir Tofa was the presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in the June 12 1993 election. He contested against Chief MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Late Tofa, a politician, business mogul and an author, died in the early hours of Monday, January 3, 2022, and was buried at Hajj Camp Cemetery in Kano metropolis.
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Late Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa was born in Kano to a Kanuri family on June 20, 1947. 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.
During the Nigerian 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.
He joined NRC in 1990.
In 1993, Tofa was elected the presidential candidate representing Kano, later defeated Pere Ajunwa, Joe Nwodo and Dalhatu Tafida to clinch the NRC ticket.
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.
Tofa was apparently defeated in the presidential election by his rival MKO Abiola, but the official results were never released by Babangida’s government.
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 authored eight book in Hausa, which include: Tunaninka Kamanninka (The way you think reflects in your character), Kimiyyar Sararin Samaniya (Space science), Kimiyya da Al’ajaban Al-Kur’ani (The science and wonders of the Qur’an), Gajerun Labarai (Short stories), Amazadan a Birnin Aljanu (Amazadan in the land of the spirits), Amazadan da Zoben Farsiyas (Amazadan and Farsiyas ring), Rayuwa Bayan Mutuwa (Life after death), and Mu Sha Dariya (Let us laugh)
May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Ameen
By Daily Trust
