A moment of tension unfolded at the Emir’s Palace in Bauchi on Friday when the state’s Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau, allegedly slapped the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, during a heated exchange.
As reported by Daily Post, the incident took place during the turbaning ceremony of former Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, who was honored as Makama Babba 1 of the Bauchi Emirate.
The event also coincided with the wedding of Abubakar’s daughter, Khadija Mohammed.
The high-profile gathering was attended by prominent political figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
Eyewitnesses claim the confrontation began after Minister Tuggar reportedly made critical remarks about the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed—comments that allegedly angered the deputy governor.
“The Deputy Governor was visibly upset. It was unexpected and tense.
If not for the Vice President’s quick intervention, the situation might have escalated further,” a source at the event told our reporter.
The clash is seen by many as a continuation of the ongoing political rivalry between Minister Tuggar and Governor Bala Mohammed.
Tuggar has been openly critical of the PDP-led administration in the state.
Earlier in the year, during an appearance on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, Tuggar accused Governor Mohammed of using President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform agenda as a springboard for a potential 2027 presidential bid.
“Governor Bala Mohammed showed clearly that he did not have any sincerity of purpose.
He used the tax bill debate to jumpstart his presidential campaign,” the minister claimed.
Responding to the minister’s accusations, Governor Mohammed’s Chief of Staff, Aminu Gamawa, labeled Tuggar’s remarks as “opportunistic and undiplomatic,” suggesting they were part of a broader effort to gain political favor.
“Tuggar’s real motive is his ambition to run for governor in 2027.
But attacking a performing governor won’t advance his cause,” Gamawa said. He also criticized the minister’s handling of foreign affairs, claiming it had weakened Nigeria’s diplomatic influence on the continent.
As of the time of this report, neither the Bauchi State Government nor the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs had released an official statement on the incident.