Breaking: Nigerian Minister Debunks Reports of Altercation with Deputy Governor, Points Finger at State Governor
In a shocking turn of events, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has come forward to set the record straight regarding reports of a clash between him and the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Auwal Jatau. Contrary to initial claims, Tuggar revealed that the actual altercation was with Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, who he accuses of verbally insulting him and threatening to slap him during a recent visit by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The incident, which has sparked widespread attention, allegedly occurred inside a vehicle shared by the Minister, the Governor, and the Vice President during the latter’s visit to Bauchi. Tuggar explained that the situation escalated when Governor Mohammed interrupted a conversation between him and the Vice President, despite having no connection to the topic being discussed. Matters took a turn for the worse when the Governor allegedly began to insult Tuggar’s late father, a respected figure who passed away over 20 years ago.
According to Tuggar, the Governor’s insults did not go unchallenged. "He insulted my late father… and even went as far as standing up to say he would slap me," Tuggar recounted in an interview with BBC Hausa. The Minister stood his ground, responding, "I got up as well to let him know that if we were left alone, I didn’t believe he could do anything to me, let alone slap me."
The situation became even more heated when the Deputy Governor reportedly rushed towards the vehicle, but was unable to approach Tuggar due to the presence of the Vice President and security guards. Tuggar alleged that the Deputy Governor threatened to slap him as well, but did not get close enough to carry out the threat.
The Minister has also accused aides or associates of Governor Mohammed of spreading false information on social media, claiming that the Deputy Governor had slapped him. Tuggar firmly denied this, stating, "That is not true. Even the deputy governor, Jatau, knows nothing like that happened. Later, they changed the story to say I wasn’t slapped at all."
This incident has brought to light the tense relationships between high-ranking government officials in Nigeria. The initial reports of a clash between Tuggar and the Deputy Governor had surfaced in April, allegedly occurring during the turbaning ceremony of former Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar. However, with Tuggar’s latest revelations, it appears that the true story is more complex and involves a deeper rift between the Minister and Governor Mohammed.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the alleged altercation between Tuggar and Governor Mohammed has significant implications for Nigerian politics and highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability among government officials. With tensions running high, it remains to be seen how this incident will be addressed and what consequences, if any, will follow.
