Former governor, Tanko Ayuba, dies at 70

Former Communications Minister, Major General Abubakar Tanko Ayuba ((retd), has passed on. He was aged 70.

Ayuba was also a former military governor of  Kaduna State  and  former  Senator who represented Kebbi South constituency, in 2007.

He  died Wednesday afternoon at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos, of an undisclosed ailment. Details of his death were sketchy at press time, but it was gathered from sources at the hospital that prior to death, Ayuba had been on admission at a private ward for about two months.

Senator Ayuba attended the Nigerian Military School and Nigerian Defence Academy. He was commissioned second lieutenant, Signals Corps, 1967; Second-in-command, Signals Regiment, 1967; Adjutant, 2 Signals Regiment, 1970; Company commander, 1971; Brigade major, 1972; Commanding Officer, 1973; Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Signals in 1978. He was Commanding officer, 2 Signals Regiment, 1979; Commander, 1979-80, Commander, Signals Brigade, 1980-81; Commander, Army Headquarters, Signals Group, 1981-84 and Commander, Corps of Signals, 1984-85. He was appointed member, Armed Forces Ruling Council, 1985; minister of Communications, 1985-87, promoted colonel, 1986, director of Manning, Army Headquarters, Lagos, 1988-90 and was appointed military governor of Kaduna State, 1990. In April 2007, he was elected Senator for the Kebbi South constituency on the platform of the People's Democratic Party, PDP. He also served on the Committees on Science & Technology, Police Affairs, Navy, National Planning, Integration and Cooperation, Defence & Army and Communication. In September 2008, he was awarded the prestigious Nelson Mandela Gold Award for his excellent leadership and contributions to society.