2027: Tuggar Declares Bauchi Governorship Bid, Rolls Out 10-Point Agenda

David Omokuvie, Bauchi

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, on Saturday formally declared his intention to run for governor of Bauchi State in the 2027 general election.

Speaking to a huge crowd of supporters at the Games Village venue in Bauchi, the state capital, he unveiled a 10-point agenda centred on agriculture, security, youth and women empowerment, and economic growth.

Tuggar, who thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing him minister, said the office had further exposed him to governance challenges and broadened his experience to serve the people of Bauchi better.

The former minister, who was elected in 2007 on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to represent Gamawa Federal Constituency in the House of Reps, said he had complied with directives requiring political appointees seeking elective offices to resign.

Declaring his ambition, Tuggar, who also contested the governorship seat on the platform of the defunt Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011 but lost to the then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Isa Yuguda, said he was rejoining the race to bring progress and prosperity to Bauchi State.

“Our state stands at a crossroads. Despite our abundant resources, many people remain poor and lack access to quality education and healthcare. This must change,” he said.

The one time Ambassador of Nigeria to Germany, noted that his background in business and farming had prepared him for leadership, adding that he understood the struggles of entrepreneurs, farmers and livestock owners.

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Tuggar said his years in opposition politics taught him resilience and gave him firsthand understanding of governance challenges, including the need for prompt payment of workers’ salaries.

He pledged to build on the achievements of past governors of the state while correcting previous mistakes.

According to him, agriculture, rural development and economic expansion would be central to his administration if elected.

He promised investments in farming, livestock production, agro-processing, rural roads and storage systems to transform agriculture into a profitable sector.

“We will support farmers with incentives and improve our weekly markets, which sustain millions of livelihoods across the state,” he said.

On security, Tuggar expressed concern over rising insecurity and pledged to address it through community policing, dialogue and stronger collaboration with traditional institutions.

“No farmer should fear going to the farm, no business person should fear travelling on our roads, and no child should be afraid to go to school,” he stated.

He also promised expanded opportunities for youths through education reform, digital learning, entrepreneurship support and technology hubs and address the menace of out of school children where Bauchi tops .

On healthcare, Tuggar pledged to improve maternal and child healthcare, care for the elderly and vulnerable and expand social protection for vulnerable groups and strengthen public hospitals.

He further promised reforms in governance and the civil service, including housing support for workers, anti-corruption measures based on fairness and accountability, and promotion of religious harmony and social cohesion.

The governorship hopeful also pledged urban renewal, clean energy expansion, women empowerment, minority rights protection and development of Bauchi State’s solid mineral resources.

“This is not just my ambition; it is our collective vision for a better Bauchi State,” Tuggar declared.