2027: Tuggar joins Bauchi race, vows to harness land for wealth creation
The immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has formally entered the race for the Bauchi State Government House, promising a radical shift in land management to
The immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has formally entered the race for the Bauchi State Government House, promising a radical shift in land management to pull millions of citizens out of poverty.
Tuggar, a seasoned diplomat who recently resigned from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet to pursue his gubernatorial ambition, picked up his All Progressives Congress (APC) expression-of-interest and nomination forms at the Ladi Kwali International Conference Centre of the Abuja Continental Hotel on Wednesday.
Speaking with journalists shortly after obtaining the documents, the former minister identified insecurity and the underutilization of Bauchi’s vast landmass as the twin challenges he intends to tackle if elected in the 2027 polls.
With a landmass spanning roughly 46,000 square kilometres, Tuggar lamented that the state's natural resources have yet to translate into shared prosperity. He warned against an elitist land-grab culture that leaves the common man with nothing.
“The 46,000 square kilometres of land that Bauchi possesses will be used to ensure subsistent farmers and herders are able to sustain themselves in a way that we can manage it such that farmers and the people are out of poverty,” Tuggar said. “And that the land is not just taken by a few, and the rest of the people are pushed into poverty and desperation.”
He emphasised that his administration would focus on "harnessing the farmland" to create a sustainable balance between agricultural productivity and regional security.
Addressing the internal politics of the APC in Bauchi State, the former Ambassador to Germany stressed that the party must prioritise candidates who possess organic support rather than those imposed through political manoeuvring.
According to him, the goal of the current exercise is “to ensure that we put forward people with credibility as candidates, people who command the respect and genuine followership.”
As the APC prepares for its primary elections, Tuggar expressed confidence in the party’s internal democratic processes. He maintained that his primary concern was the integrity of the contest rather than the specific mode of selection.
“I hope that the process will be free and fair. And I hope regardless of what the party chooses, whether direct or consensus, as long as the process is free and fair,” he noted.
Tuggar’s entry into the race is expected to significantly alter the political landscape in Bauchi, as he brings a mix of international diplomatic experience and grassroots connections to a contest that is already drawing several high-profile aspirants.
