* FCTA Minister leads delegation to burial
A FORMER Minister of Works and Housing in the Babangida administration, Maj.-Gen. Mamman Kontangora (rtd), is dead, a family source said on Thursday.
The source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Kontagora died at the National Hospital, Abuja on Thursday.He was 69 years old.
Kontagora was born on the 20th April, 1944 in Kontagora in Niger State.
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan Thursday described the death of the former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Major-General Mamman Tsoho Kotangora as a national loss. Until his death on Wednesday, he was the Deputy Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).
A statement Thursday by the Presidential Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Rueben Abati, said Jonathan on behalf of himself, the Federal Government and all Nigerians, extends sincere condolences to the late General's family, the Kontagora Emirate Council, Governor Babangida Aliyu and all the people of Niger State.
"The President joins them in mourning the illustrious and indefatigable former Minister of Works and the Federal Capital Territory who, even in retirement, continued to serve his fatherland with zeal, vigour and enthusiasm whenever he was called upon to do so.
"President Jonathan believes that the nation will always honour the memory of the late Army Engineer for having served Nigeria with commendable patriotism and distinction during an excellent career in the Armed Forces and in various other capacities in the public service including Federal Minister, Sole Administrator of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Chairman of the Presidential Committee on the Development of National Stadia for the World Youth Soccer Championship in 1995.''
He prays that God Almighty will grant General Kontagora's soul eternal rest.
In the meantime, the President has dispatched a three-man Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala Mohammed to represent him at the burial
Also on the delegation were the Minister of State for Power, Mrs. Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi and the Chairman of Sure-P, Dr. Christopher Kolade.
Kontagora attended Central Primary School, Kontagora, from 1952 to 1958 and Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, from 1964 to 1967. He bagged a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1972.
He also attended the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterrey, California, U.S. and the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Kontagora served as Minister of Works and Housing from 1988 to 1993. He was appointed Sole Administrator of Ahmadu Bello Uniersity, Zaria by the Sani Abacha regime.
He was also the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from 1998 to 1999.
Kontagora held various command posts, including Commanding Officer, 11 Field Engineers Regiment, Kaduna; Commander, Nigerian Army Engineers Brigade, Ibadan; Commander, Nigerian Army Engineers Brigade, Jos; Commander, Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, New Bussa, and Director of Quartering and Engineering Services, Army.
He contested for the presidency on the platform of the PDP in 2007 but was defeated at the primaries. He was a Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the 2003 National Assembly election, but was defeated in the primaries by Isa Maina, who was eventually elected into the Senate.
He also vied for the 2007 presidential election under PDP, but lost out to late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua during the party primaries.
Until his death, he was the Deputy Chairman of the Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).
He held the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON)
Kontagora is survived by a wife, Hajiya Ladi, and children.
The Guardian
Too bad it had to happen at this point in time. May his soul rest in perfect peace. This is really no good news in any way.