—A National Outcry on the Verbal Assault Against Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar
By: Abubakar Garba Katagum
By every reckoning of political decorum, the office of a state governor is expected to exemplify maturity, dignity, and diplomacy. Alas, when a man trades honor for hubris, and leadership for loud-mouthed lunacy, he reduces the sacred seat of governance to a theatre of shame. Such is the sorry tale of Governor Bala Mohammed, Kauran Bauchi the Executive Governor of Bauchi state —whose recent outburst against the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has left a bitter taste in the mouth of right-thinking Nigerians.
What should have been a graceful journey—bearing the Vice President of the Federal Republic, His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima, along with Governor Kaura and Minister Tuggar—from Bauchi Airport to the palace of the revered Emir of Bauchi, was instead marred by an unprovoked episode of verbal venom. An eyewitness account paints the scene with painful clarity: what began as light political banter soon spiraled into an ugly exchange of words, one ignited by Kaura himself, whose tongue proved sharper than a double-edged sword.
The Vice President, in jest, had remarked in Hausa: “Bauchi, har kun fara kamfen na 2027?”—”Bauchi, you’ve already begun your 2027 campaigns?” To which Minister Tuggar, ever composed, replied, “Your Excellency, that’s how we play politics here. Every party wants to show its muscle whenever there’s a gathering.” But Kaura, like a hawk seizing a dove mid-flight, turned the moment into a personal attack, declaring, “Your Excellency, we do it deliberately—to deal with some people.”
And then came the dagger cloaked in jest—Kaura pointed his finger squarely at Tuggar and snarled, “It’s you, Tuggar, that we are waiting for in 2027—to deal with you!”
One would think that the seat of a governor should have cooled such tribalistic tantrums. But alas, Kaura continued to bare his teeth, forgetting that a leader without restraint is a danger even to himself.
In defense of his dignity and his name, Tuggar retorted firmly, “No one has the audacity to ‘deal’ with me—I am not your political mate.” And indeed, he is not. For history bears witness to the fact that Tuggar, like a gardener who watered a wilting flower, supported Kaura in his climb through the political ranks—offering aid, counsel, and goodwill. But what does Kaura offer in return? Insults, arrogance, and public disgrace.
In an even more disgraceful turn, Kaura made unsavory and insulting remarks about Tuggar’s late father—a man who, by all accounts, deserved reverence, not ridicule. This was no longer politics; this was character assassination soaked in contempt.
To insult a man is low, but to drag his ancestors into a feud is to spit on the grave of decency. Tuggar, understandably furious, raised his voice in warning. At this point, Deputy Governor Jatau, seated farthest back, attempted to intercede, perhaps to defend his principal’s slipping pride—but those beside him held him back, knowing too well that escalating the drama would have soiled what little was left of their integrity.
But this storm did not brew in isolation. Earlier at the airport, the Honourable Tuggar had mobilized a sea of supporters—his reception of the Vice President far outshining the lukewarm turnout of Governor Kaura’s dwindling PDP base. This show of strength only confirmed what the people of Bauchi have long whispered: Kaura’s popularity is waning, like a candle in a storm. His leadership—marked by empty promises and festering discontent—has lost its shine, and the people yearn for change.
In a desperate bid to save face, Kaura’s camp—allegedly led by his son, Shamsuddeen—began peddling a false narrative: that Deputy Governor Jatau slapped Tuggar during the altercation. A lie so poorly fabricated, it barely fooled even their most loyal cronies. But such is the way of the politically desperate—they muddy the water in hopes that no one can see the truth beneath.
Let it be known that a true leader builds bridges, not burns them; earns loyalty, not demands it; and when challenged, responds with wisdom—not words that sting like wasps. Bala Mohammed has shown, yet again, that he would rather rule by insult than inspire by example.
We, the concerned citizens of Nigeria, cannot turn a blind eye to this insult upon a distinguished ambassador and a sitting federal minister. Nor shall we stand silent while decorum is thrown to the dogs, and the values of courtesy and camaraderie are trampled under the boots of ego.
Bauchi deserves better than a governor who sees every opponent as an enemy and every ally as a threat. The nation deserves better than leaders who forget their roots, who bite the very hands that once lifted them.
As 2027 approaches, the wind of change blows strong across Bauchi—and its message is clear: enough is enough.
Abubakar Garba Katagum, writes from Azare
