Ex-foreign minister Tuggar denies criticising Tinubu, pledges loyalty

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has reaffirmed his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and the administration’s policies, dismissing reports suggesting he criticised the President in a recent interview.

Tuggar, in a statement issued on Sunday in Bauchi by his media aide, Abdulkadir Alkassim, said his remarks in a Hausa-language interview had been misrepresented and taken out of context.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Ambassador Tuggar did not criticise or question President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in any way. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and a deliberate distortion of his remarks,” Alkassim said.

He added that “the Minister remains a loyal supporter of the President, fully committed to the Renewed Hope Agenda and the success of the APC-led administration.”

According to the statement, Tuggar’s comments in the interview focused on internal processes within the All Progressives Congress in Bauchi State, particularly the need for transparency and fairness in the selection of candidates.

It stated that Tuggar advocated that party members should be allowed to freely choose candidates through credible and competitive processes.

Alkassim also said Tuggar raised concerns over alleged efforts to influence the APC governorship process in the state, insisting that aspirants should be allowed to test their popularity in open contests.

“His contention was simply that all interested candidates should have a fair opportunity to participate in an open contest,” he said.

The statement further referenced President Tinubu’s directive that political appointees seeking elective office should resign within the stipulated timeframe, adding that interested aspirants were expected to comply.

Tuggar, according to the aide, maintained that his comments were aimed at strengthening internal democracy within the APC and promoting unity in Bauchi State.

“Amb. Tuggar remains steadfast in his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, committed to party unity and dedicated to advancing policies that promote development, prosperity, and good governance,” the statement added.

NAN