Tuggar Clarifies Face-Off, Says Bauchi Governor Tried To Slap Him In Public, Not His Deputy

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has denied reports claiming he had a confrontation with the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Auwal Jatau.

Tuggar explained that the dispute was actually with the state governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, whom he accused of verbally insulting him and threatening to slap him during a recent visit by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, Tuggar said the incident took place inside a vehicle they were sharing with the Vice President during the visit to Bauchi.

“We were in the same vehicle with the Vice President when he asked me something. Governor Bala Mohammed, who was sitting nearby, interrupted and started talking, even though the conversation had nothing to do with him,” Tuggar explained.

The minister stated that the situation intensified when the governor allegedly began insulting his late father.

“He insulted my late father, a man who died more than 20 years ago and even went as far as standing up to say he would slap me,” he said.

Tuggar stated that he also stood up in response. “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.”

According to the minister, tensions rose further when the deputy governor allegedly rushed toward the vehicle but was unable to reach him.

“After that, his deputy came running toward the vehicle saying he too would slap me, but he didn’t even get close. Don’t forget, the Vice President was right there with us and the security guards there are not that of Bauchi,” he added.

Tuggar alleged that certain aides or associates of Governor Bala were responsible for spreading false information on social media, falsely asserting that the deputy governor had slapped him.

“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,” Tuggar said.

In April, reports emerged claiming that Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau, slapped Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, during a heated exchange.

The alleged incident reportedly took place at the turbaning ceremony of former Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, as the Makama Babba I of the Bauchi Emirate.