By Timi Owolabi

There was mild drama at the Emir’s Palace in Bauchi on Friday, when the state’s Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau, allegedly slapped the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, during a heated altercation.

The incident occurred during the turbaning of former Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, as Makama Babba 1 of Bauchi Emirate, which coincided with the wedding of his daughter, Khadija Mohammed.

The high-profile event was attended by top political figures including Vice President Kashim Shettima and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, among others.

According to eyewitnesses, the clash ensued after the Foreign Minister reportedly made disparaging comments about the Bala Mohammed-led administration, comments the deputy governor allegedly found offensive.

“The Deputy Governor was visibly furious. It was a shocking moment. If not for Vice President Shettima’s swift intervention, it could have escalated badly,” a source told our correspondent.

The altercation is believed to be a continuation of the long-standing political rift between Minister Tuggar and Governor Bala Mohammed. Tuggar, a staunch critic of the PDP-led government in the state.

Tuggar had earlier accused the governor of using President Bola Tinubu’s tax reforms to kickstart his 2027 presidential ambition.

In a January appearance on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, Tuggar had said: “Governor Bala Mohammed showed clearly that he did not have any sincerity of purpose. He used the tax bill debate to jumpstart his presidential campaign.”

Reacting, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Aminu Gamawa, described the minister’s comments as “opportunistic and undiplomatic,” accusing him of seeking to curry favours from the Tinubu administration.

“Tuggar’s ambition to run for governor in 2027 is the real reason behind these constant attacks. But maligning a performing governor won’t help him,” Gamawa said.

He added that the minister’s alleged “absentee politics” and poor performance in foreign affairs had diminished Nigeria’s diplomatic strength, especially in Africa.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Bauchi State Government nor the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued an official statement on the matter.