A former presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, is dead.

Tofa, according to family sources, died at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in the early hours of Monday after a brief illness.

Confirming his death, one of the deceased relations, Alhaji Muhammad, said “Alhaji Bashir Tofa died after a brief illness.”

Born on June 20, 1947, Tofa died 29 years after contesting and losing a presidential election against late Chief Mashood Abiola, an election that was botched by the military junta of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida..

The burial arrangement is to be announced but the deceased may be buried today in line with Islamic rites.

Tofa’s death came a few days after the ancient city of Kano lost one of its illustrious and foremost medical doctors in Northern Nigeria, Dr Ahmad Datti.

Meanwhile, the governor of Jigawa State, Mohammad Badaru described his death is a great loss not only to his family but the nation.

LAGOS EYE NEWS reports that the governor said he was saddened with the news of the death of Alhaji Bashir Tofa who he described as a statesman, an industrialist, politician as well as community leader who as a member of the Constituent Assembly contributed a lot in drafting the 1979 constitution lived and died in the service of humanity.


“His death is a great loss not only to his family but the nation in general He pray to Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the loss.