The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, on Thursday opened up on the rift between him and Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed.

On April 19, the minister was among dignitaries who accompanied Vice President Kashim Shettima to Bauchi on official assignment.

Hours later, reports alleged that Deputy Governor Auwal Jatau dished a slap on Tuggar in a bus conveying dignitaries from Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa international airport to the Emir of Bauchi’s palace.

The reports claimed the slap occurred after the minister made disparaging comments about the governor. But the deputy governor denied the claims.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, the minister shed more light on what led to the misunderstanding that escalated into a confrontation.

He said contrary to some claims that he clashed with the deputy governor, the issue actually started with the governor himself, while they were in a bus with the vice president during the visit.

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 a 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 left alone, there was 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.”

Tuggar said the security personnel present were not from Bauchi but had been brought in from Abuja.

“There was no physical contact between the governor and I. He merely said he would slap me, but when he realised he couldn’t actually reach me, the matter ended there. 

“However, the governor’s son, who is trying to meddle in politics, went online spreading the story that Deputy Governor Auwal Jatau slapped me. The deputy governor himself later admitted the story wasn’t true and began spreading a different version that he didn’t slap me.”

Political ambition and policy disputes

On speculations that his dispute with Governor Bala stemmed from political ambitions, Tuggar said, “Whether I have such an ambition or not, if you look at my history, you’ll see that when it’s time to speak the truth, I do so. What’s happening directly affects my local government and our town, Udubo.”

The minister attributed the rift to governance differences, particularly land use policies in Bauchi State. He said, “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 pretence 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.

He further questioned the state’s development strategy, saying, “If these actions were truly aimed at developing the state as claimed, then why hasn’t Bauchi become a leading state in grain production or cattle rearing? Instead, things seem to be going backwards.”

Criticisms of PDP govt 

Amb Tuggar has been a vocal critic of the PDP-led administration in Bauchi, frequently accusing Governor Bala Mohammed of ulterior motives, particularly regarding the 2027 presidential race.

In January, Tuggar publicly criticised Bala on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, alleging that the governor was leveraging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tax reforms to launch his 2027 presidential bid.

He accused Tinubu of exploiting national policy debates for personal political gain, but the governor’s Chief of Staff, Alhaji Aminu Gamawa, dismissed the remarks as “opportunistic and undiplomatic.”

Gamawa further accused Tuggar of pushing for his own governorship ambition, seeking favour with the Tinubu-led government, while undermining a “performing governor.”

The governor himself criticised Tuggar’s diplomatic performance, advising him to correct his own shortcomings before criticising others. He said, “It is disappointing that the minister is our son.”

Governance and leadership disputes

Tuggar, however, countered Gamawa, by accusing Governor Bala of mismanaging state funds, claiming, “Bauchi State has received over N8.8 billion in October and N9 billion in November, but there is nothing to show on the ground in the state.”

He also criticised the governor’s land allocation initiative, saying, “The governor is using the state’s funds to buy assets and plots of land from the masses.”

But Governor Bala denied these allegations, insisting his projects were tangible and trackable. “Perhaps, he is doing this to shield his principal because we have pointed out weaknesses in his handling of the country’s affairs. His accusations stem from this,” the governor said.

Minister denies claims 

Tuggar, however, dismissed the  allegations of underperformance in his ministerial role, rejecting claims that he had mishandled Nigeria’s diplomatic affairs, particularly during military takeovers in neighbouring countries.

“First, the military takeover in Mali took place in 2021, before President Tinubu came to power. I also wasn’t occupying this office at the time.

“The president wasn’t in power when the military took over in Burkina Faso. And I wasn’t a minister during the coup in Niger Republic.

“How could you then buck the blame on me? Was I the one who engineered the coup?” 

2027 governorship 

Although Tuggar is yet to formally declare his bid for governorship come 2027, indications suggest he is considering the position. In December 2023, Daily Trust reported that he had hinted at his readiness to contest the Bauchi State governorship election in 2027.

Speaking through his Director General, Tuggar Foundation, Bello Mohammed Tukura, he said his political future would depend on his ability to mobilise strong support.

 “As far as 2027 is concerned, it depends on your ability to muster enough support. If you are ready, I am very much ready,” Tuggar said while addressing his political coordinators from across the 20 local government areas of the state.

 “Since 2015, when we lost the election, we have retreated and watched from afar, but continued working for the success of the party and the good of the people of the state.

“We did not aspire in 2019 and 2023 because we needed to establish a strong base.” 

Daily Trust reports that 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.

However, efforts to reach Alhaji Mukhtar Gidado, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Bala Mohammed and other government officials to speak on the matter were ineffectual.

Alhaji Mukhtar Gidado, also neither answered several calls put to his phone nor responded to a text message sent to him by one of our reporters.