Tuggar Denies Rumours of Deputy Governor Slapping His Father, Himself
Adam Tuggar, son of Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has publicly dismissed reports alleging that the Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau, physically assaulted his father.
In a statement released to the media on Saturday, Adam described the circulating claims as “entirely false, baseless, and malicious,” emphasizing that no such altercation ever occurred.
He urged the public to disregard the rumor, labeling it as a politically motivated fabrication aimed at fueling tensions between federal and state officials.
“There is absolutely no truth to the story being circulated. My father has not had any physical altercation with the Deputy Governor of Bauchi or anyone else for that matter.
“This is yet another example of how misinformation is being weaponized in our political discourse,” Adam said.
The rumor began to spread online earlier this week amidst reports of a growing rift between Minister Tuggar and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. The friction reportedly intensified following comments by Minister Tuggar criticizing Governor Mohammed’s response to the federal government’s tax reform initiatives under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In response to the minister’s remarks, the Bauchi State Government issued a strongly worded statement through the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Aminu Hassan Gamawa, accusing Tuggar of seeking political relevance and failing in his responsibilities as Foreign Minister.
The statement also questioned Nigeria’s recent diplomatic direction under his leadership.
Despite the political back-and-forth, Adam Tuggar urged both the public and the media to focus on factual reporting and responsible dialogue.
“We cannot allow lies to shape public perception or dictate the narrative in a democracy,” he said.
As of now, neither the office of the Deputy Governor nor Minister Tuggar has issued further comments on the matter. However, analysts warn that the incident underscores the heightened political climate in Bauchi and the need for greater civility in political engagement.
