Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has revealed that Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state wanted to slap him owing to the dispute between both of them and his Deputy, Muhammad Auwal Jatau.
The incident happened on April 19, when the minister was among dignitaries who accompanied Vice-President Kashim Shettima to Bauchi.
The Minister said the trouble actually started with the governor contrary to some claims that he clashed with the Deputy Governor.
He traced the clash to when they were in a bus with the Vice President during the latter’s visit to the state.
He said: “We were traveling in a vehicle accompanying the Vice President on a visit to Bauchi State. The Vice President spoke to me, and the Governor, who was sitting beside him, interjected in the conversation that didn’t concern him.
“After that, he insulted my late father—my father who has been dead for over 20 years—and then went further to threaten to slap me. But I saw that if left alone, there is no way he can have advantage over me, so I stood up to show him my height.
“After that, his deputy came rushing from the back of the bus, saying he too would slap me, but he couldn’t even get close to me, especially since the Vice President was in the same vehicle.”
According to Tuggar, “there was no physical contact between the Governor and I, he merely said he would slap me, but when he realized he couldn’t actually reach me, the matter ended there. However, the Governor’s son, who is trying to meddle into politics, went online spreading the story that Deputy Governor Auwal Jatau slapped me.”
The minister said the deputy governor confirmed he didn’t slap me.
There are speculations that Tuggar has the intention to run for governor in 2027.
Tuggar said even if he has the ambition to be governor of the state in the future, when the time comes, he will make it known.
The minister said the rift to stem from how the State was being run, adding that “what’s happening directly affects my local government and our town, Udubo.
“Everyone can see how farmlands and grazing lands are being taken away from farmers and herders and handed over to companies. These companies then come in under the pretense of engaging in agriculture, taking loans in the process.
“This is disheartening, because when farmlands or grazing areas are seized from people, some end up being pushed into criminal activities.”
He said if these actions were truly aimed at developing the state as claimed, “then why hasn’t Bauchi State become a leader in grain production or cattle rearing? Instead, things seem to be going backward.”
Both Tuggar and Jatau hail from Bauchi North Senatorial District, a region that has never produced a state governor since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
