Bashir Tofa: The life of the Businessman who Contested against Abiola in 1993 Presidential election
On Monday, January 3, 2022, Alhaji Bashir Tofa died at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital after a protracted illness at 74. Tofa was well known as a presidential candidate in the annulled June 12, 1993 election. He ran against Moshood Abiola, whom many considered the winner of what has been adjudged the freest and fairest election in Nigeria.
Muhammad Sanusi II described him as the last man standing for the sanity and protection of Kano and its heritage.
Early Life and Education
Tofa was born on June 20, 1947, to a Kanuri family and had his primary education at Shahuci Junior Primary school in Kano before proceeding to City Senior Primary School in the same state. In 1962, he attended Provincial College, Kano, until 1966.
Following his secondary school education, he was employed by the Royal Exchange Insurance company in 1967, where he worked till 1970.
After three years of work experience, Tofa decided to further his education. In 1970, he moved to London where he attended City of London College where he spent three years. He returned to Nigeria and ventured into politics in 1976.
Politics
Following his return to Nigeria in 1976, Tofa joined politics, where he was elected as councillor of Dawakin Tofa LGA in Kano at the age of 29. After one year at the local government level, Tofa rose to the membership of the constituent assembly.
During Nigeria’s second republic, Tofa joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and quickly became the party’s national financial secretary. It was during this period that his path with Abiola crossed. While Tofa served at the federal level, Abiola served as the Ogun state chairman of the party, and the two became friends.
Following the military takeover of the government in December 1983, the head of state, Muhammadu Buhari, dissolved the National Party of Nigeria.
In 1989, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the head of state, lifted the ban on political activities and formed two ‘national and detribalised parties’: the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party SDP). Tofa then was part of the Liberal Movement, which metamorphosed into the Liberal Convention. In 1990, he joined the NRC.
Following the introduction of the Option A4 System, Tofa was elected presidential candidate representing Kano. In the primary election, he squared up against Pere Ajunwa, Joe Nwodo and Dalhatu Tafida and ultimately won the ticket. He then selected Sylvester Ugoh, the governor of the defunct Central bank of Biafra as his running mate.
June 12, 1993, Presidential election
Abiola, a long time friend of Tofa, won the presidential nomination of the SDP and selected Baba Gana Kingibe as his running mate. Abiola had unsuccessfully tried to contest for the presidency in 1983 but lost the ticket to the incumbent president, Shehu Shagari.
On June 10, 1993, Chief Arthur Nzeribe-led Association for a Better Nigeria obtained a court injunction to stop the election, but the National Electoral Commission dismissed it.
After the election, NEC began releasing results but halted the process on June 15 after the Association for a Better Nigeria obtained another court injunction to stop the process. On June 24, Babangida announced the annulment of the election citing vote-buying, electoral irregularities and the need to protect the judiciary.
Unannounced election results released in 1993 by democracy activists revealed that Tofa polled 5,952,087 votes while Abiola had 8,341,309 votes.
Occupation
Beyond politics, Tofa was also a businessman and industrialist. He was the chairman of International Petro-Energy Company (IPEC) and Abba Othman and Sons Ltd. He was also a board member in Impex Ventures, Century Merchant Bank and General Metal Products Ltd.
He was also a writer who pushed for the sustainability of the Hausa language. He wrote his most famous work, “Tunanin Ka Kamannin Ka”, ‘ translated in English, ” The Way you Think Reflects in Your Character,” in 2011. He called for the continued literacy of the Hausa language and encouraged more people to learn it. His other books were 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).
Democracy Day and Zoning
On June 6, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari declared that Nigeria’s Democracy Day would be moved from May 29 to June 12. He said, “June 12th, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our Independence. The fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then military government does not distract from the democratic credentials of that process.”
The Buhari administration also conferred Abiola with a posthumous title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic and his running mate, Kingibe, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.
Tofa expressed his reservation following President Buhari’s declaration, hinting that fair play did not occur.
He wrote: “While I do not begrudge the President his power to bestow favour on whomsoever he pleases, it is also important, especially for history, for all actions from the highest authority in the country to be based on fair play and law. Needless to say, being one of the two presidential candidates in that election does not in any way define me or my achievements in life.”
He also said the choice of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day deserved reconsideration.
“Meanwhile, whatever may be the prevailing sentiment and politics in Abuja, the idea that June 12 should be the new Democracy Day is also a matter that deserves serious reconsideration. Such decisions should be beyond some political cold calculations.”
Tofa was also a critic of the concept of presidential zoning, which he argued will continue to breed disunity. He described it as “a very divisive and myopic formula” and “utterly undemocratic and unfair to qualified people who have ambitions to lead their country”.
“I have never supported the rotational presidency for the simple fact it is an idea that will never promote unity amongst Nigerians. It is a very divisive and myopic formula. What Nigeria needs is a Nigerian President, not a sectional or zonal President, who is there simply because he/she is from a particular zone or region of the country.”
“For zones to be clamouring for the presidency as a do or die affair during each election cycle is certainly one major factor for the utter disunity we experience in these difficult times. Rotational presidency is utterly undemocratic and unfair to qualified people who have ambitions to lead their country but won’t be availed with the opportunity because they are from the wrong zone at that material time. The shouts of ‘it must be our turn’ from one or two zones, and ‘no, it is not’, are the consequence of a rotational presidency, which are very inimical to the unity of this country.”
Death and Tributes
Tofa died on Monday, January 3 and was buried according to Islamic rites at the Hajj Camp Cemetery along Airport Road in Kano. He is survived by his wife and six children.
In a statement issued by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, President Buhari expressed grief over the demise of the elder statesman. He said Tofa “set up the Bureau for Islamic Propagation, BIP in the mid-80s that helped to unite Muslim Scholars in the Northern States, narrowing the differences that characterised their relationships. The BIP also published books and newspapers.
“He was, till the end, a patriot to the core. He envisaged a better Nigeria for all. We pray that this dream and collective aspiration and necessary commitment will not go with him. We owe it to his memory and to the nation.”
Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano described Tofa as a great statesman who has left his imprint in the country’s political landscape.
He said: “The legacy of his political beliefs and triumphs will be important footnotes in the literature of Nigeria’s government and politics for generations yet to come.
“He was a great man, a quintessential democrat and outstanding statesman who has left very hold prints both on the politics and political history of Nigeria.”
The Arewa Consultative Forum said Tofa invested his time, energy, and money in the group’s formative years but that the annulled presidential election has overshadowed his contribution to Nigeria.
“His participation in the 1993 presidential election as the candidate of the NRC overshadowed all other things he did maybe because Moshood Abiola was involved or because it was finally annulled.
“Every time that election was mentioned, his name just came up. It was as if he never did anything in life other than participating in that election.”
Former vice president Atiku Abubakar, in a tweet, described Tofa as a democrat with whom he always exchanged views concerning Nigeria.
“Alhaji Bashir Tofa was a democrat and patriot personified. We have always exchanged views on topical issues that affect our country. He was a balanced and incisive personality. What a big loss! May Allah forgive his sins and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. Ameen.”
