- Governor Bala Mohammed criticizes Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar’s diplomatic performance during a BBC Hausa interview
- Tuggar counters by accusing Mohammed of mismanaging Bauchi State’s resources and misusing public funds for personal projects
A heated exchange has erupted between Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, as both officials criticize each other’s performance in office.
In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, Governor Mohammed accused the minister of inefficiency in managing Nigeria’s diplomatic affairs. He urged Tuggar to address his alleged shortcomings before criticizing others.
The governor expressed disappointment, particularly as Tuggar hails from Bauchi State, and criticized the federal government’s approach to diplomatic relations, including delays in ambassadorial appointments and handling of military coups in neighbouring countries.
“Bauchi state has received over N8.8 billion in October, and N9 billion in November, but there is nothing to show onthe ground in the state.”
Tuggar also blasted the governor’s initiative of allocating plots of land for farming in the state, saying, “The governor is using the state’s funds in buying assets and plots of land from the masses.”
Mohammed, however, denied squandering the state’s funds, saying his projects in the state are tangible and could be tracked.
Bala added, “Perhaps he is doing it to provide shield to his principal because we have picked holes in his handling of the country’s affairs and pointed out what should be corrected. His accusations stem from this.”
In a separate interview with BBC Hausa, a day after governor Bala’s, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, dismissed allegations of underperformance in his ministerial role.
He also denied not handling the country’s diplomatic affairs effectively, especially during the military takeover in neighbouring countries.
“First, the military takeover in Mali occurred in 2021, before President Tinubu came to power. I also wasn’t occupying this office at the time.
“The president wasn’t in power when the military took over in Burkina Faso. And I wasn’t a minister during the coup in Niger Republic.
“How could you then buck the blame on me! Was I the one who engineered the coup?”
There are insinuations that Tuggar may join the governorship race in Bauchi State come 2027.
Earlier in December 2023, Daily Trust reported how Tuggar hinted at his readiness to contest in the Bauchi State governorship election 2027.
Tuggar, who spoke through his Director General, Tuggar Foundation, Bello Mohammed Tukura, said his political future in 2027 would depend on the ability of his political camp to mobilise strong support for him.
“As far as 2027 is concerned, it depends on your ability to muster enough support. If you are ready, I am very much ready,” he said while addressing his political coordinators from across the 20 local government areas of the state.
“Since 2015 when we lost the election, we have retreated and watched from afar but working for the success of the party and the good of the people of the state. He added that we did not aspire in 2019 and 2023 because we need a very strong base,” he added.
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