Bauchi Govt slams Foreign Minister for criticising Governor Mohammed

The Chief of Staff to Bauchi State’s Governor, Dr Aminu Hassan Gamawa, has strongly criticised Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, in an official statement. This comes after Tuggar criticised Governor Bala Mohammed’s comments about Nigeria’s tax reform policy.

In his statement, Dr Gamawa said: “The recent tirade by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, against the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, over the latter’s valid criticism of the tax reform policy, reflects a profound disconnect from both reality and his responsibilities.”

The Chief of Staff accused Tuggar of failing at his job as Foreign Minister, pointing to several issues. He stated: “Under Tuggar’s mismanagement, ECOWAS, a once united and robust sub-regional body, is now in disarray. His poor advice to President Tinubu on the crises in the Sahel has led to the withdrawal of key member states like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. This is a historic failure, unprecedented in the history of Nigeria’s leadership in West Africa.”

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Dr Gamawa also defended Governor Mohammed’s record, highlighting his agricultural programmes that have created jobs in Bauchi State, particularly through the Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme (KEEP). As he noted: “The Governor’s policies have created thousands of jobs across the agricultural value chain, empowering farmers and youth through modern farming techniques and innovative programs.”

The statement suggests there’s more to this conflict than just policy disagreements. According to Dr Gamawa, Tuggar’s criticism is politically motivated: “Tuggar’s attacks on Bala Mohammed are clearly motivated by his ambition to contest the Bauchi governorship in 2027. However, his strategy of maligning the Governor will backfire. The people of Bauchi have witnessed Bala Mohammed’s transformative leadership and will not be swayed by the baseless rhetoric of an absentee politician.”

The Chief of Staff concluded by defending the Governor’s critique of the tax reform policy, saying it shows his commitment to Nigerians’ welfare while suggesting Tuggar should focus on fixing problems in his own ministry rather than criticising others.