Bauchí Deputy Governor Allegedly Slaps Minister of Foreign Affairs in Bauchi

It is not true,”. Deputy Governor’s Office Says 

From  Paul Orude Bauchi

Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Honourable Auwal Jatau, has allegedly slapped the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar during the visit of the Vice President Ibrahim Kashim to Bauchí to give out daughter of former Governor Mohammed Abubakar on Friday.

The Vice President was also in the state to witness the turbaning of  Abubakar, as the first Makama Babba  of the Bauchi Emirate, which coincided with the wedding of his daughter, Khadija .

Daily Sun learnt that the incident occurred inside a bus conveying the VP and other dignitaries to the place of the Emir of Bauchi for the wedding and turbanning ceremonies

Those in the bus included  governors Bala Mohammed and Yahaya Inuwa of Bauchí and Gombe States respectively,  Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Professor Ali Pate, some members of the National Assembly from the state, among others 

The problem started after the Foreign Minister allegedly made disparaging remarks about the Governor Mohammed-led administration which the deputy governor allegedly felt were offensive and allegedly slapped the minister.

According to a  witness who pleaded anonymity,  but for the swift intervention of the Vice President Shettima,  the situation could have escalated

There has been a no love lost relationship  between Tuggar and Governor Mohammed triggered by Mohammed ‘s criticisms of the President Ahmed Tinubu led administration in the wake of the end bad Governance nationwide protest last August, a development that had made Tuggar staunch critic of the PDP-led government in the state.

Tuggar accused Mohammed of using President Tinubu’s tax reforms to kickstart his 2027 presidential ambition and land grabbing white the state government in turn accused Tuggar of being “opportunistic and undiplomatic”.

In reaction to Tuggar’s criticism , Mohammed’s  aides alleged that Tuggar’s attacks on the governor’s administration was because of the Foreign Minister’s  ambition to run for governor in 2027 hiding behind the attacks. 

Reacting to the story, Muslim Lawal, Press Secretary to the deputy governor described it as unfounded 

Speaking with journalists in Bauchi on Saturday, Muslim said, “No,no, how can a deputy governor  slap a minister ?I don’t think such ever can happen in Bauchi because l know my principal as a responsible leader and number two citizen in Bauchi can never slap a minister of any person 

“I am not aware about that and I am hearing it for the first time I am hearing it. If there any evidence that the deputy governor did that you can speak on that. We don’t know about it. The deputy governor cannot do that “

Meanwhile, the son of the governor of Bauchi State Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed appeared to have celebrated the I dice on hair social media platform in spite of the denial from tbw office of the deputy governor. 

His verified Facebook Page reposted  with the capture, “Tension in Bauchi as Deputy Governor Reportedly slapped Minister of Foreign”  and reposted   others like “Deputy Governor the first to slap a serving minister in Bauchi” among others