A very popular Peoples Democratic Party Chieftain has bowed of the nation's political scenery.
The former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has quit active partisan politics.
At a special birthday lecture organized to mark his attainment of 80 years in Abuja, the Elder statesman urged Nigerians to support the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that dividends of democracy trickles down to the common man.
He also applauded former President Goodluck Jonathan, crediting him with efforts at fashioning credible electoral system and for his statesman-like concession of victory at the last presidential election.
Though PDP was not represented at the ceremony, the party later issued a statement describing the former chairman as a quintessential democrat and humble statesman, who has contributed immensely to the development and stability of the nation.
Speaking on his experiences in politics, particularly his tenure as the PDP chairman, Tukur said he worked hard to entrench internal democracy, party discipline and party supremacy.
He enjoined politicians to see politics and government positions as avenues for rendering service to the country and not a bread and butter affair, adding that elected officers and government officials should regard their positions as sacred trust to be used to serve the nation.