Bauchi Gov’t Slams Tuggar For Criticising Gov Mohammed

Accuses Minister of Diplomatic Failures and Opportunistic Attacks

 

 

Bauchi State government has strongly criticized Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, over his recent criticism of Governor Bala Mohammed, regarding the latter’s critique of President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform policy.

The attack on Governor Mohammed, described as “undiplomatic” and “opportunistic,” was condemned by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Dr. Aminu Hassan Gamawa. The statement, issued on behalf of Governor Mohammed, accused Tuggar of attempting to gain favor with political benefactors while neglecting his own failures as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It argued that rather than addressing key issues within his ministry, Tuggar had opted to attack a governor whose leadership has brought significant transformation to Bauchi State, particularly in agriculture.

Dr. Gamawa highlighted Governor Mohammed’s Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme (KEEP), which has created thousands of jobs for local farmers and youth. The program focuses on training in fish farming, animal husbandry, and cash crop production, transforming the state into an economic hub. He also pointed out Tuggar’s ignorance of these achievements, criticizing his detachment from his home state and his apparent lack of understanding of local issues.

The statement also attacked Tuggar’s performance as Foreign Minister, claiming that his tenure has been marred by a series of diplomatic failures, such as the disarray within ECOWAS and the withdrawal of key member states, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. It accused Tuggar of advising President Tinubu poorly regarding the crises in the Sahel and neglecting to address deteriorating relations with Nigeria’s neighboring Sahelian countries.

The Chief of Staff further criticized Tuggar’s handling of Nigeria’s foreign relations, particularly with the United Arab Emirates, where the country has faced diplomatic setbacks, including a visa ban. Additionally, the statement alleged that Tuggar has shifted Nigeria’s foreign policy focus towards French interests in Africa, abandoning the country’s historically Afrocentric stance.

On the issue of Governor Mohammed’s agricultural projects, the statement rejected Tuggar’s insinuations about the land use in Bauchi, defending the Tiamin Rice Project as a successful initiative that has provided thousands of jobs. It also noted that while federal allocations to Bauchi have been strained by national economic policies, the governor has earned national recognition for his effective use of state resources.

The statement concluded by advising Tuggar to focus on redeeming his diplomatic performance instead of engaging in petty attacks on Governor Mohammed, whom the people of Bauchi are likely to support in the 2027 gubernatorial elections. It urged Tuggar to “remove the log from his own eye before attempting to point out the speck in Governor Mohammed’s.”