Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar has accused Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed of criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s tax reforms as a tactical move to boost his 2027 presidential aspirations, claiming the governor’s remarks were insincere and politically motivated, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
Tuggar alleged that Governor Mohammed’s comments lacked sincerity and were politically motivated, and that despite his public criticism, the governor had been seeking a private meeting with the president.
Earlier, Governor Mohammed expressed his disapproval of Tinubu’s tax reform policies during a Boxing Day address to a Christian community in Bauchi, urging the president to reconsider the reforms due to their potential to cause widespread unrest, disproportionately affect northern states, and hinder governors’ ability to pay salaries, and cautioning that continued implementation could provoke a strong reaction from the northern region.
The Presidency responded to Mohammed’s comments by denouncing them as a thinly veiled threat to the president and emphasizing that the governor’s views did not speak for the entire northern region.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Governors Forum expressed support for the Federal Government’s tax reform bills during a meeting on January 16, although the governors proposed a revised Value-Added Tax revenue sharing formula to address concerns about equitable distribution.
The Minister’s comments indicate increasing political tensions in the run-up to the 2027 elections, as key figures begin to position themselves for potential runs.
