H.E Ambassador Tuggar Clarifies Remarks, Reaffirms Loyalty to President Tinubu By Raymond Enoch
Former Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has moved to dispel what he described as widespread misrepresentations of comments he made during a recent Hausa-language interview, insisting that his remarks were never directed against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and should not be construed as criticism of the President or his administration.
In a statement issued ttoday and cited by Paradigm News to clarify the controversy, Ambassador Tuggar said interpretations suggesting that he questioned or attacked President Tinubu were false and amounted to a deliberate distortion of the issues he raised during the interview.
The clarification comes amid growing public debate over excerpts from the interview, with some reports portraying the minister’s comments as a veiled criticism of the President. However, Tuggar firmly rejected such claims, reaffirming his loyalty to President Tinubu and his commitment to the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the former minister, the focus of the interview was strictly on internal party matters within the Bauchi State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the need to uphold transparency, fairness and internal democracy in the party’s candidate selection processes.
He maintained that his position was rooted in the belief that all aspirants should be given a level playing field to test their popularity before party delegates through credible and competitive elections.
Tuggar explained that his concerns were directed at what he viewed as attempts to influence the APC governorship process in Bauchi State, rather than allowing an open contest among interested aspirants. He stressed that his intervention was intended to protect the integrity of the party’s democratic processes and strengthen confidence among party stakeholders.
The former minister also referenced President Tinubu’s directive requiring political appointees seeking elective positions to resign within the stipulated period, noting that any interested aspirant was free to comply with the presidential directive and seek the mandate of party members through due process.
He argued that ensuring fairness and addressing grievances within the party would help promote unity and position the APC for greater success in future elections.
Against the backdrop of the controversy generated by the interview, Tuggar appealed to party leaders and stakeholders not to misconstrue his comments, emphasizing that his objective remains the advancement of justice, inclusion and cohesion within the party.
The minister further called on the leadership of the APC to consider concerns raised by stakeholders and take necessary steps to strengthen internal democracy and party unity.
Reaffirming his unwavering support for President Tinubu, Ambassador Tuggar said he remains fully committed to the success of the administration and the implementation of policies aimed at delivering development, prosperity and good governance to Nigerians.
The statement underscores what aides describe as an effort to correct misconceptions surrounding the interview and reaffirm the minister’s loyalty to President Tinubu, while drawing attention to concerns over internal party processes in Bauchi State that he believes deserve constructive engagement rather than political misrepresentation.
