Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has accused Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed of leveraging criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s tax reforms to launch his 2027 presidential campaign.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Tuggar alleged that Mohammed’s remarks lacked sincerity, positioning them as an early bid for political ambitions.
He remarked, “Governor Bala Mohammed’s severe invectives against the president and administration highlight a lack of sincerity of purpose.”
Mohammed previously urged Tinubu to reconsider the tax reforms, warning they could lead to anarchy and disproportionately affect northern governors’ ability to pay salaries. Tuggar disclosed the governor has since sought an audience with Tinubu despite his criticisms.
While the Nigeria Governors’ Forum backs the Federal Government’s tax reform bills, they propose revising VAT sharing formulas. Mohammed’s stance, however, drew backlash from the presidency, which dismissed his views as unrepresentative of northern sentiment.
