Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, has come under fire following his recent criticism of Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, over the latter’s stance on President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform policy,leadership reports.
Tuggar’s remarks, deemed undiplomatic and opportunistic, were strongly condemned by the Chief of Staff to the Bauchi governor, Dr. Aminu Hassan Gamawa.
In a statement issued on behalf of Governor Mohammed, Dr. Gamawa accused Tuggar of seeking political favor while neglecting his own responsibilities. He argued that instead of addressing pressing issues within his ministry, Tuggar had resorted to attacking a governor whose agricultural policies have significantly boosted Bauchi’s economy. Under Mohammed’s leadership, the statement highlighted, Bauchi has witnessed job creation through initiatives like the Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme (KEEP), which empowers farmers and youth with skills in fish farming, animal husbandry, and cash crop production.
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“Tuggar, despite being from Bauchi, appears oblivious to these achievements,” the statement read. “Had he spent more time in his home state instead of traveling across foreign capitals, he would have seen firsthand the transformation Bala Mohammed has brought to Bauchi. His disconnect from the grassroots—evident in the fact that his own local government did not support President Tinubu in the last election—underscores his irrelevance to those he claims to represent.”
The statement further criticized Tuggar’s tenure as Foreign Affairs Minister, accusing him of diplomatic missteps that have diminished Nigeria’s international standing. It cited the decline of ECOWAS under his leadership, attributing the withdrawal of key member states like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to his poor advisory role on Sahel-related crises.
“Tuggar has allowed Nigeria’s relationships with Sahelian neighbors to deteriorate, worsening security challenges along the 1,600-kilometer border,” the statement claimed. “The once-effective Joint Multinational Anti-Terrorism Taskforce has now been rendered obsolete under his watch.”
The statement also pointed to Nigeria’s diplomatic setbacks, including the UAE’s visa ban debacle, as further evidence of Tuggar’s inefficiency. It accused him of aligning Nigeria with French geopolitical interests, abandoning the country’s traditional Afrocentric foreign policy, and alienating nations resisting French influence in Africa.
Dismissing Tuggar’s criticisms of land use in Bauchi, the statement described them as a smear campaign, emphasizing the success of the Tiamin Rice Project—a large-scale agricultural initiative that has created thousands of jobs. It also accused Tuggar of failing to grasp the economic realities faced by states nationwide, noting that Governor Mohammed has prudently managed resources despite inflation, a new minimum wage, and federal government economic missteps.
“Governor Mohammed’s fiscal discipline has earned him national recognition, including ‘Rural Road Infrastructure Governor of the Year 2022’ and ‘Urban Renewal Governor of the Year 2024.’ Tuggar’s refusal to acknowledge these accomplishments is both dishonest and petty,” the statement added.
The statement advised Tuggar to focus on improving his performance rather than using criticism of Governor Mohammed as a springboard for his rumored 2027 gubernatorial ambition.
“Tuggar’s tenure as Foreign Minister has been marked by inertia, incompetence, and irrelevance. Even President Tinubu’s frequent sidelining of him during foreign trips speaks volumes about his redundancy. His preoccupation with attacking Bala Mohammed only further highlights his lack of focus.”
The statement concluded by asserting that Tuggar’s attempts to discredit Governor Mohammed for political gain would ultimately fail, as Bauchi residents recognize and appreciate Mohammed’s transformative leadership.
Reaffirming Governor Mohammed’s commitment to national issues—including his critique of Tinubu’s tax reform policy—the statement urged Tuggar to reflect on his own shortcomings before attempting to criticize others.
