There was mild drama at the Emir’s Palace in Bauchi on Friday, when an alleged physical altercation between Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, disrupted what was expected to be a day of celebration and unity.
The event, held to mark the turbaning of former Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, as the Makama Babba 1 of Bauchi Emirate, also doubled as the wedding ceremony of his daughter, Khadija Mohammed.
The occasion attracted many high-ranking government officials, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State.
Things reportedly took a sharp turn when an argument broke out between Deputy Governor Jatau and Minister Tuggar. Multiple eyewitnesses claim the Foreign Minister made negative remarks about the current PDP-led government in Bauchi, allegedly blaming it for policy failures and political distractions.
Those remarks, according to sources at the venue, did not sit well with 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,” one source revealed.
The incident is believed to be rooted in long-standing political friction between the minister and Governor Bala Mohammed. Tuggar has been openly critical of the state government’s policies and has accused the governor of leveraging federal reforms for personal political ambition.
In January, Tuggar accused Governor Bala of exploiting President Tinubu’s tax reform agenda to gain early momentum for a 2027 presidential run.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, he said, “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, dismissed the accusations, saying the minister’s criticisms were “opportunistic and undiplomatic.” He added, “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 also noted that Tuggar’s approach to his ministerial duties has weakened Nigeria’s diplomatic presence on the African continent, accusing him of being disengaged from the country’s foreign policy needs.
