Former Minister for Communications, Major General Abubakar Tanko Ayuba (retd) is dead.
Though details of his death is still sketchy, our source gathered that he had been at a private ward at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi Araba, Lagos, for about two months, before his demise, on Wednesday afternoon.
Ayuba who also served as Senator, representing Kebbi South constituency, in 2007, died of an undisclosed ailment.
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 Head quarters, 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.
