By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has been berated for making insinuating comments against the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate, over conduct and outcome of the recent gubernatorial primary election of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State.
The assertion was made by the Pate Youths Ambassadors Initiatives (PYI), in reaction to the comments credited to the former Minister aftermath of the primary election.
Recall that former Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, SAN Francisco emerged the consensus gubernatorial candidate of the APC following the intervention of APC stakeholders and national leadership of the party, a development that has continued to generate misgivings among the members.
PYI therefore exonerated the Coordinating Minister from the ongoing political logjam in the Bauchi State Chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly regarding the outcome of the party gubernatorial primary held recently.
Reacting to the insinuation that the Coordinating Minister had a hand in making the former Governor, the candidate of the party, the Pate Youth Ambassadors Initiative (PYI) expressed its deep concern and disappointment over the recent comments reportedly made by one of the aspirants, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar regarding the role of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, in the political affairs of Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The group, in a press statement on Sunday, stated that, “We were shocked by the claim that Professor Muhammad Ali Pate allegedly influenced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to endorse former Bauchi State Governor, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, SAN, as the preferred gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State.”
It stated that,”Such allegations are unfortunate, unnecessary, and capable of creating division among party stakeholders and supporters.”
According to the group, “Professor Muhammad Ali Pate is a respected technocrat, globally recognized public health expert, and distinguished son of Bauchi State whose contributions to national development have earned him local and international recognition.”
The group added that, “Throughout his career, he has demonstrated professionalism, competence, and commitment to public service. Associating him with unsubstantiated political claims does not reflect the maturity and leadership expected from senior political figures.”
“PYI also notes that Professor Pate’s reputation has been built on merit, hard work, and measurable achievements, and there is no credible basis for linking him to the political narratives being circulated,” it added.
The group stressed that, “It is therefore surprising that rather than presenting his achievements and vision for the future of Bauchi State, Ambassador Tuggar has chosen to make allegations against Professor Muhammad Ali Pate. These claims lack credible evidence, substance, and any verifiable foundation. They appear to be politically motivated and intended to divert attention from the real issues affecting the people of Bauchi State.”
It added, “PYI is further concerned that some of Ambassador Tuggar’s recent statements appear to be driven by political frustration rather than a constructive agenda for the development of Bauchi State. We believe that leaders seeking public office should focus on presenting their programmes, achievements, and solutions to the challenges facing the people rather than attributing political developments to the influence of other individuals.”
According to the group,”The repeated attempts to link Professor Muhammad Ali Pate to decisions regarding party nominations and endorsements are, in our view, unfounded and unsupported by any credible evidence. Rather than engaging in blame games and political distractions, all aspirants should respect the democratic process and allow party members and the people of Bauchi State to freely determine their preferred candidates.”
“Bauchi citizens are politically conscious and capable of assessing the competence, experience, leadership qualities, and track records of those seeking public office,” it added.
PYI also believed that former Governor Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar (SAN) possesses a broader record of governance experience, political leadership, and public service than Ambassador Tuggar.
It argued that,”As a former Governor of Bauchi State, Barrister MA Abubakar directly led the affairs of the state and implemented policies and programmes that impacted the lives of the people.”
According to the group, “In our assessment, his experience in governance and public administration places him among the most experienced political figures in Bauchi State. We therefore believe that any comparison between the two should be based on their records of service, leadership achievements, and contributions to the development of Bauchi State and Nigeria.”
PYI further observed that Ambassador Tuggar’s claim that Professor Muhammad Ali Pate influenced presidential decisions regarding APC ticket allocations is,”in our view, completely false and misleading. If such influence truly existed, it would not be necessary for him to seek political validation through blame and allegations.”
“It is important to note that political opportunities are earned through party processes, public trust, and democratic competition. Attempts to shift responsibility for internal party outcomes to individuals who have no role in such decisions are unfair and misleading,” it stressed.
“We also remind all political actors that the APC remains a democratic institution with established procedures for selecting candidates. The party’s flag bearer for any election will emerge through constitutional and democratic processes, not speculation or propaganda,” the group added.
It stated that Professor Muhammad Ali Pate’s outstanding contributions to national development, particularly in the health sector, have brought immense pride and recognition to Bauchi State and Nigeria. His achievements continue to speak for themselves both locally and internationally.
PYI is confident that the people of Bauchi State are politically conscious and capable of making informed decisions based on competence, character, capacity, and track record.
Ultimately, the choice of who governs Bauchi State will rest with the electorate through a transparent democratic process.
“We therefore call on Ambassador Tuggar and all political stakeholders to conduct themselves responsibly, avoid divisive rhetoric, and contribute positively to the unity, peace, and development of Bauchi State,” as contained in a statement signed by Prince Mohammed Sani Hassan, Director General, Pate Youth Ambassadors Initiative (PYI).
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