A dramatic scene unfolded at the Emir’s Palace in Bauchi on Friday when the Deputy Governor of the state, Auwal Jatau, was reported to have slapped the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, during a confrontation.
The incident took place at the event marking the turbaning of former Bauchi Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, as the Makama Babba 1 of Bauchi Emirate, which also coincided with the wedding of his daughter, Khadija Mohammed.
The high-profile occasion was graced by influential figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
Eyewitnesses described the situation as tense after the Foreign Minister allegedly made critical remarks regarding the leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed, comments that reportedly angered the Deputy Governor.
A source familiar with the event revealed, “The Deputy Governor was visibly upset. It was an unexpected turn of events, and had Vice President Shettima not intervened quickly, it could have spiraled out of control.”
This altercation is believed to be part of a longstanding political divide between Tuggar and Governor Bala Mohammed, with Tuggar being a vocal critic of the PDP-led administration in Bauchi.
Earlier, Tuggar had accused the Governor of using the tax reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu to advance his own 2027 presidential ambitions.
During a January appearance on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, Tuggar stated, “Governor Bala Mohammed has shown a lack of sincerity by using the tax bill debate to promote his presidential campaign.”
In response, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Aminu Gamawa, dismissed the Minister’s remarks as “opportunistic and undiplomatic,” suggesting that Tuggar was attempting to align himself with the current federal administration.
Gamawa further suggested that the Minister’s ongoing criticisms were driven by his aspirations for the 2027 governorship race, arguing that undermining a well-performing governor would not help his political cause.
Gamawa also took aim at Tuggar’s handling of foreign affairs, claiming that his “absentee politics” had weakened Nigeria’s diplomatic position, particularly within Africa.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Bauchi State Government nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued any official comment on the incident.