Bauchi 2027: Why The Cap Fits the Utopia, Garrison Commander of Bauchi Politics, Ambassador Turggar
By Mohammed Kaka Misau
From whichever angle one viewed it, in convex or concave, the political ascendancy of Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, the current Minister of External Affairs is no doubt endowed with reputable family background, having born and raised by a father who is full of wisdom and a political grandee, Hon Abubakar Tugger.
Hon Yusuf Tuggar ever since he was born on 12 March 1967, according to reliable source who spoke to this medium, asserted that he is not a kind of silver tongue politicians but rather a person with fat deposit of rectitude behavior and feather bed in desperate efforts to take humanity in clover.
The political hotshot, Hon Turggar has right from his childhood embraced the culture of beaver away at any herculean task ahead of him in order to make bed of roses in life right from his primary and secondary schools up to University levels.
To illuminate further, Ambassador Turggar in a bid to succeed in life, stood firm and unperturbed despite challenges to bag a Bachelor degree in International Relation from the United States International University and also Masters degree from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom with flying colors.
The key appurtenance associated with the current affairs Minister, Hon Yusuf Tuggar is that being a political leader with arduous stand, even after the completion of his Masters degree, he did not fold his arms to only awaiting higher profile appointment in government, rather he worked for many years in private sector, such as the Nordic Oil and Gas service where he served as the Chief executive officer, it was an energy consulting firm and he also contributed to political and economic aspects of Nigerian Newspapers and Magazines.
Since Hon Yusuf Tuggar was born to his ubringing in a political family, his father, Hon Abubakar Tugger was publicity Secretary of the defunct Northern People Congress during the first republic and also member House of Representatives, representing Gamawa federal Constituency during the second republic. These provided a soft landed political spaces for the young Tuggar to cock a hoop in Bauchi political landscape then.
To accentuate, it could be one of the major tour-de force that ever since, Hon Tuggar joined politics, he is always on upwardly mobile, such that he contested the position of House of Representative for Gamawa federal Constituency and won (2007 to 2011).
Being a clear sighted political leader, he was on top of the pile among his pairs in the lower chamber of the House and earned prestige from people due to the awe-inspiring efforts he put in place in the various committees he served.
It could be recalled that Hon Tuggar served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Procurement, regulating government spending in oil and gas industries as well as separating President cabinet from affairs of awarding contracts.
Hon Yusuf Tuggar also oversaw the creation of the National Council on Public Procurement and at the same time member of the House Committee that worked on local content bill, with focus in Oil and gas.
His effect in politicking as lawmaker in the lower chamber of the National Assembly gave him a leeway to served as a member House Committee on foreign affairs, as well as Deputy Chairman House Committee on Public petition. He sponsored a bill to address the inhumane transportation of livestock on the floor of the House.
His soaring political profile not only made him possible to always move with gargantuan fellowship, but equally made possible for series of clarion calls on him from people that finally persuaded the political lion in his den to his contest of Bauchi State Governorship election in 2011 under the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and came second due to non adherence to alternative vote pattern marred with violence.
Also the borned politician moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013 and contested the Governorship primaries when he nearly won.
The immense contributions of the political aristocrat led to the formation of government both at the centre and the state which made President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint him in August 2017 as Ambassador to Germany.
He made awe by playing major role during the 23rd season of the conference of the parties to United Nations framework convention on climate change, as well as facilitated the state visit of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel to Nigeria in August 2028.
More so, the luminary political leader during his Ambassadorial position, initiated the repatriation of the lost Benin artefacts from the German government, leading to the returned of 23 Benin Bronze looted artefacts valued at over 100 million pounds.
Also, Hon Tuggar attended a meeting held with Siemens in Germany over project in Nigerian power sector, where the then Chief of staff, late Abba Kyari tested positive Of COVID 19 in 2020, which Tuggar then ordered the closure of the embassy in Berlin and was tested negative.
The uncrowned king of Bauchi polities successfully completed his term as ambassador to Germany on Monday 21 August 2023 and was subsequently appointed as foreign affairs Minister by President Bola Ahmed Tinibu with eye- poping result.
It is neither hype nor pseudo to say that Hon Yusuf Tuggar political linchpin over couple of decades in politicking could be one of the major force of demagoguery that virtually turned the political psyche of thousands of his supporters across the state, to not only see him as apotheosis leader but equally avowed him to contest Bauchi State Governorship election come 2027 under the platform of all Progressives Congress (APC).
From the political point of views, in respect to 2027 Governorship election in the state, Hon Yusuf Tuggar the current Minister of External Affairs has been an Utopia of the moment.