Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Opens Up on Long-Standing Rift with Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has publicly addressed what he described as a long-standing strained relationship with the Governor of his home state, Bauchi, Senator Bala Mohammed.
In a candid interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Thursday, Tuggar shed light on tensions that culminated in a heated incident during a recent official visit by Vice President Kashim Shettima to Bauchi State.
The incident in question reportedly occurred on April 19, 2024, during a formal trip involving several high-profile government officials.
According to reports, the clash took place inside a bus transporting dignitaries from Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport to the Emir of Bauchi’s palace, where a scheduled function was to hold. The bus carried Vice President Shettima, Minister Tuggar, Governor Bala Mohammed, the Deputy Governor Muhammad Auwal Jatau, and other top officials.
Tensions flared when, according to Tuggar’s account, Governor Mohammed abruptly interrupted a private conversation he was having with the Vice President. The Minister claims the Governor launched into an aggressive verbal tirade, insulting his late father and threatening physical violence.
Narrating the encounter, Amb. Tuggar said, “He interrupted my conversation with the vice president and began insulting me. He went as far as insulting my late father and threatened to slap me.”
The Minister added that he refused to be intimidated and stood up to defend himself.
He said, “I didn’t see how he could beat or slap me, so I also stood up to stop him.”
The situation allegedly escalated further when the Deputy Governor, Muhammad Auwal Jatau, joined in.
“Then his deputy came from the back of the bus saying he too would slap me, but he couldn’t get close, especially with the vice president right there.”
While media reports circulated claiming that the deputy governor physically assaulted Minister Tuggar by slapping him, Jatau has since publicly denied the allegation, stating that no such incident took place.
Despite the seriousness of the accusations, the Bauchi State Government has largely remained silent on the matter, issuing no official statement. The Deputy Governor has denied the physical altercation, but Governor Mohammed himself has not publicly addressed the confrontation.
The confrontation appears to be the latest expression of deep-rooted political and personal tension between Amb. Tuggar and Governor Mohammed. Both men are influential political figures from Bauchi State but belong to rival factions within Nigeria’s political landscape.
While Tuggar is a staunch ally of President Bola Tinubu and a key figure in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mohammed is a prominent member of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Their rivalry may also stem from long-term competition for political dominance in Bauchi State, with both leaders having at different times been considered potential gubernatorial candidates or key federal appointees from the region.
The episode has drawn attention not just because of its dramatic nature, but because it involved top-ranking national officials, including the Vice President. Observers have expressed concern over the breakdown in decorum and professionalism among Nigeria’s political elite, especially in public and ceremonial settings.
Political analysts warn that such incidents, if left unaddressed, could damage intergovernmental relations and undermine public confidence in political leaders.