Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tugga, has launched a scathing critique against Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, accusing him of allegedly dispossessing small-scale farmers and urban residents of their lands under the guise of commercial farming and redevelopment projects.
Speaking during an interview with Liberty TV, Tugga dismissed the governor’s recent verbal jabs at President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He fired back, stating, “When it comes to money issues, the governor should not put his mouth there because the earnings and allocation he is getting has doubled, but we have not seen any improvement, no change in what he is doing.”
The minister provided specific figures to back his claims, revealing that in October 2024, the governor received a Federal Government allocation of N8.8 billion, followed by another N9 billion in November.
Yet, according to Tugga, the funds have yielded no tangible progress. He accused the governor of diverting these resources away from crucial areas such as education, healthcare, and addressing the alarming number of out-of-school children.
Instead, Tugga alleged, the funds are being used for personal enrichment.
“Instead of using the money for social services and infrastructure, he is busy using such funds to buy properties and land from the poor citizens of Bauchi. This affects both the rich and the poor,” he claimed.
He further alleged that the governor’s modus operandi involves acquiring properties in the GRA (Government Reserved Area) under the pretense of development projects.
Tugga concluded, “He evicts people from their houses, claiming they are going to do projects. This is another way of siphoning funds from the state coffers.”