Bauchi State deputy governor, Auwal Jatau, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, engaged themselves in a heated altercation that degenerated into fisticuffs on Friday.
The development occurred in a bus conveying both political office-holders to Bauchi city from Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport in Bauchi State on Friday.
LEADERSHIP learnt that the deputy governor had waded into an initial altercation, which started with his principal, Governor Bala Mohammed, and the minister. Jatau’s involvement escalated the altercation, forcing other people onboard the vehicle to intervene to avoid escalation.
Recall that the relationship between Governor Mohammed and the Foreign Affairs Minister Tuggar became soured recently following the governor’s fierce criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s policies, particularly the Tax Reform Bills, which he claimed would make the northern part of the country poorer.
Tuggar had counter-argued that the Tax Bills were objective and would not put any part of the country at a disadvantage. The duo aggressively attacked each other in an ensuing media war.
Also, in March this year, the minister boycotted Udubu, his village, where the Federal Government launched the ‘Irrigate Nigeria’, implemented under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, ostensibly to avoid meeting Governor Mohammed, who was the chief host of the event. He was billed to represent President Tinubu at the event.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that Jatau allegedly slapped the minister in the ensuing melee.
Reports indicated that Vice President Kashim Shettima, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate and some Senators were also in the bus.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Bauchi State governor, Mukhatar Gidado, declined to comment. He said he wasn’t a witness to the reported altercation and hasn’t been briefed about it.
A source close to Tuggar, who pleaded for anonymity because he was not fit to speak on the matter, confirmed that an altercation ensued between Governor Mohammed and the minister, adding that deputy governor Jatau intervened to support his principal.
He, however, did not confirm any brawl between the deputy governor and the minister.
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