Gen. Tanko Ayuba Is Dead

Major General Abubakar Tanko Ayuba (rtd.), former
Communications Minister, is dead.
The senator representing Kebbi South constituency, in 2007,
died Wednesday afternoon at the Lagos State University
Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos, of an
undisclosed ailment.
Details of his death were sketchy as at press time, but it
was gathered from sources at the hospital that prior to his
death, Ayuba had been on admission at a private ward for
about two months.
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 Peoples 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.