A tense scene unfolded at the Emir’s Palace in Bauchi on Friday when Deputy Governor Auwal Jatau allegedly slapped the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, during a heated exchange.
The incident took place during the turbaning ceremony of former Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar as Makama Babba 1 of the Bauchi Emirate. The occasion also marked the wedding of Abubakar’s daughter, Khadija Mohammed. The high-profile event drew notable dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
Eyewitnesses reported that the confrontation erupted after Minister Tuggar allegedly made critical remarks about the Bala Mohammed-led state administration, which angered the deputy governor.
“The Deputy Governor was visibly enraged. It was a startling moment,” a witness said. “Vice President Shettima stepped in quickly, preventing the situation from escalating.”
The clash is seen as an extension of the long-running political feud between Tuggar and Governor Bala Mohammed. Tuggar, a vocal opponent of the PDP-led state government, has publicly criticized the governor.
In January, during an appearance on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, Tuggar accused Governor Bala of leveraging President Tinubu’s tax reform agenda to boost his 2027 presidential ambitions.
“Governor Bala Mohammed made it clear he lacked genuine intent. He used the tax debate to launch his campaign,” Tuggar claimed.
In response, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Aminu Gamawa, condemned the minister’s remarks as “opportunistic and undiplomatic,” alleging that Tuggar’s comments were motivated by his own aspirations to contest the 2027 gubernatorial election.
“Constantly attacking a performing governor won’t get him anywhere,” Gamawa stated. He also criticized Tuggar’s record in foreign affairs, suggesting his lackluster leadership had weakened Nigeria’s diplomatic influence, especially in Africa.
As of press time, both the Bauchi State Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had yet to release an official statement on the altercation.