Bauchi Deputy Governor Allegedly Slaps Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar in Heated Altercation

There was a dramatic incident at the Emir’s Palace in Bauchi on Friday when the state’s Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau, allegedly slapped the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, during a heated exchange. The altercation took place during the turbaning ceremony of former Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, who was named Makama Babba 1 of the Bauchi Emirate. The event coincided with the wedding of Abubakar’s daughter, Khadija Mohammed. The ceremony was attended by several prominent figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.

Eyewitnesses said the confrontation began after the Foreign Minister made disparaging remarks about the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed, which allegedly angered Deputy Governor Jatau. “The Deputy Governor was visibly furious. It was a shocking moment. If not for Vice President Shettima’s swift intervention, it could have escalated badly,” a source said.

The incident is believed to stem from a long-standing political rivalry between Tuggar and Governor Mohammed, with Tuggar being a vocal critic of the PDP-led government in Bauchi. Earlier, the Foreign Minister had accused Governor Mohammed of using President Bola Tinubu’s tax reforms as a stepping stone for his 2027 presidential ambitions. In a January interview on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, Tuggar stated, “Governor Bala Mohammed showed clearly that he did not have any sincerity of purpose. He used the tax bill debate to jumpstart his presidential campaign.”

In response, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Aminu Gamawa, condemned Tuggar’s comments as “opportunistic and undiplomatic,” suggesting the minister was seeking favor from the Tinubu administration. “Tuggar’s ambition to run for governor in 2027 is the real reason behind these constant attacks. But maligning a performing governor won’t help him,” Gamawa said, adding that the minister’s “absentee politics” and perceived underperformance in foreign affairs had weakened Nigeria’s diplomatic standing, particularly in Africa.

At the time of this report, there had been no official statement from either the Bauchi State Government or the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the altercation.