A dramatic incident reportedly unfolded on Friday, April 18, 2025, at the Emir’s Palace in Bauchi, where Deputy Governor Auwal Jatau allegedly slapped Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, during a high-profile event. The altercation occurred during the turbaning ceremony of former Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar as Makama Babba 1 of the Bauchi Emirate, which coincided with the wedding of his daughter, Khadija Mohammed. The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.…CONTINUE READING
Eyewitnesses reported that tensions escalated after Minister Tuggar allegedly made critical remarks about the Bala Mohammed-led state administration, which angered Deputy Governor Jatau. The Deputy Governor was visibly enraged, and Vice President Shettima intervened promptly to prevent the situation from escalating further.
This incident is seen as a manifestation of the ongoing political rift between Minister Tuggar and Governor Bala Mohammed. Earlier in January, Tuggar accused Governor Mohammed of leveraging President Bola Tinubu’s tax reforms to advance his 2027 presidential ambitions. In response, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Aminu Gamawa, criticized Tuggar’s comments as opportunistic and undiplomatic, suggesting that Tuggar’s own political aspirations in Bauchi State might be influencing his criticisms.
As of now, neither the Bauchi State Government nor the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued an official statement regarding the incident.
