Reason Governor Bala Mohammed Threatened To Slap Me – Tinubu’s Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar has accused Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed of threatening to slap him during a recent outing.
Tugar said this while giving a detailed account of the misunderstanding that recently occurred between him, Governor Mohammed, and his Deputy, Muhammad Auwal Jatau.
The incident, which reportedly took place on April 19 during Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s visit to Bauchi, sparked widespread speculation after claims emerged that Deputy Governor Jatau slapped the minister during a bus ride from Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport to the Emir of Bauchi’s palace.
Jatau however, denied those allegations.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Tuggar clarified the circumstances, saying the dispute originated with Governor Mohammed, not his deputy.
“We were travelling in a vehicle accompanying the Vice President on a visit to Bauchi State. The Vice President spoke to me, and the governor, who was sitting beside him, interjected in a conversation that didn’t concern him,” Tuggar recounted.
“He went as far as insulting my late father, who died over twenty years ago, and then threatened to slap me.”
The minister said he stood up to assert himself after the governor’s threat, explaining that “there was no way he could have any advantage over me”.
He added that Deputy Governor Jatau then rushed from the back of the vehicle, saying he, too, would slap him (Tuggar).
“But he couldn’t even get close to me, especially since the Vice President was in the same vehicle,” Tuggar noted.
He emphasized that no physical altercation occurred and that the incident ended without escalation, contrary to online rumors.
Tuggar accused the governor’s son of spreading false reports on social media, claiming Jatau had struck him. “Even the Deputy Governor later admitted the story was false and began pushing a different narrative.”
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
