Following reports about a tense confrontation between Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, new information is now coming out, challenging earlier claims and providing a clearer picture of what actually took place.
A source who attended the meeting but requested to remain anonymous told NewsPoint that reports of Tuggar being physically attacked are simply not true.
According to the source, “The Minister is an athlete and is more physically fit. If it came to a fight, it’s impossible for him to be slapped without a corresponding action. So it’s totally untrue and impossible. It is just the machinations of traducers loyal to the government.”
People who witnessed the exchange say the trouble started when some members of Governor Mohammed’s team made sarcastic remarks aimed at Minister Tuggar. Things quickly got worse when the Governor allegedly made an insulting comment about Tuggar’s father, a man who is highly respected for his role in Nigeria’s early political history.
This insult, sources say, pushed the Minister to stand up and challenge the Governor face-to-face, demanding that he repeat the statement and warning that such disrespect would not go without a response. It was at this point, according to accounts, that the Governor backed down, and his Deputy tried to step in—but Tuggar made it clear the matter didn’t involve him.
Despite rumors being shared by some of Governor Mohammed’s supporters, there was no actual fight, and reports claiming that Minister Tuggar was embarrassed or overpowered are being strongly denied by those who were there.
Vice President Kashim Shettima was reportedly present during the event and quickly asked former Bauchi Governor Adamu Mu’azu to help calm the rising tension before things got out of hand.
Muslim Lawal, a spokesperson for the Bauchi Deputy Governor, also addressed the issue, saying, “No, no, no, how can the deputy Governor slap the Minister? I don’t think that ever happened in Bauchi because I know my principal is a responsible person. The number two person cannot slap a Minister or whoever person that people are talking about. We are not even aware of that. I am just hearing this from you.”
