Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, says he has endured a frosty relationship with Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi.
In a report published Thursday, Tuggar told BBC Hausa how a disagreement with the governor widened their rift.
On April 19, the minister was among dignitaries who accompanied Vice-President Kashim Shettima to Bauchi.
Hours later, reports alleged that Muhammad Auwal Jatau, Bauchi deputy governor, dished a slap on Tuggar in a bus conveying dignitaries from Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa international airport to the emir of Bauchi’s palace.
The reports claimed the slap occurred after the minister made disparaging comments about the governor.
Jatau denied the claims.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Tuggar blamed the state governor for the altercation.
He said Mohammed interrupted a conversation he was having with the vice-president — thereby drawing first blood.
Tuggar added that the governor later insulted his father, who died over 20 years ago, and threatened to slap him.
“I didn’t see how he could beat me or slap me, so I also stood up and tried to stop him,” the minister said.
”After that, his deputy ran from the back of the bus, saying he would also come and slap me, but he couldn’t even get close to me, because don’t forget that the vice-president was in that bus.”
Tuggar has been a persistent critic of the Mohammed administration.
The minister is reportedly mulling a governorship ambition.
“Whether I have ambitions or not, if you look at my history, you will see that when it is time to speak the truth, I speak out,” Tuggar added.
”Everyone knows how farmers and herders are being almost robbed of their farms and their grazing land and given to companies, and these companies come and ask for loans on the pretext that they will come and farm, they will invest there.
”So what is happening is unfortunate because when their farms are taken away or herders are taken away from their grazing land, you see some of them go and engage in this act of terrorism.
“If giving state lands to companies for investments was truly beneficial, then why have we not yet seen Bauchi state producing more grains or cattle than any other state, while the situation is getting worse?”
Jatau is also rumoured to be nursing a 2027 gubernatorial bid.
Both men hail from the Bauchi north senatorial district — a region that has not produced a governor since 1999.
