Social media platforms and political circles are buzzing with intense debate as President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Daniel Bwala granted an interview to Al Jazeera.
Bwala, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, faced an interrogation by journalist Mehdi Hasan in an episode titled “Nigeria: ‘Renewed Hope’ or ‘Hopelessness’?”
The 50-minute interview with Al Jazeera, which has already garnered hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube, saw Tinubu’s aide defending the current administration’s economic reforms and security record.
However, the conversation took a sharp turn when Hasan confronted the presidential aide with his own past statements.
Recall that before joining the Tinubu administration, Bwala was a prominent spokesperson for the opposition and a fierce critic of the President.
During the interview, the host cited specific dates and quotes where Bwala had previously accused the then-candidate Tinubu of misconduct and even suggested the creation of militias.
Hasan confronted Bwala with old quotes, video clips and statements from the period when he was aligned with the presidential campaign of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar.
The host referenced a January 22, 2023 statement attributed to Bwala alleging that Tinubu created a militia to manipulate the election.
“You said Tinubu started a militia to sway the election corruptly,” Hasan told him.
Bwala rejected the claim. “Tinubu didn’t create a militia, and I never said that,” he responded.
Many Nigerians on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook described the outing as “embarrassing,” arguing that the aide struggled to reconcile his past rhetoric with his current role.
Here are some reactions;
Reacting to the criticism that has trailed his interview with Al Jazeera, Tinubu’s aide said he has no regret.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Bwala said the backlash from what he described as opposition sympathisers was predictable and short-lived, and would not distract him from his duties as Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication.
“The majority of the naysayers are members of the opposition and their sympathisers. It does not bother me one bit. Their temporary excitement over the interview has not lasted and will not last, because it does not take away their obvious problem of lack of vision and mission in conducting and managing a political party.”
He was also dismissive of suggestions that his performance on the program had been inadequate.
He said, “Selling ice cream, looking fine, and seeking the praises of men were never part of” his job description, he said, adding that promoting and defending the President and his administration was what he did “with ease and joy.”
Bwala said Head to Head approached him nearly six months ago, requesting an interview to challenge the government on security, the economy, and corruption, but never indicated it intended to probe his personal past.
“Nowhere in our almost six months of communication did they mention that they were going to challenge my past. If that had been their plan, ethically and professionally, they were supposed to inform me so I could prepare my response. But that’s okay, ethically, that is on them, not on me.”
He accused Hassan of deploying what he called “opposition research-style journalism,” alleging that some of the quotes read out during the interview were inaccurate while others were “outright fake news”, a claim he said he would address at a later date.
On his previous criticisms of President Tinubu before joining the administration, Bwala was unapologetic, noting that such was the nature of partisan politics.
“I am glad those were things I said when I was in the opposition saddle with such zeal. It is all politics.
“Half of Donald Trump’s cabinet is made up of people who once spoke against him, and several people in our own cabinet also spoke against President Tinubu in the past. Those things do not bother him if you care to know.”
On the opposition, Bwala was cutting. “They have no path to victory and no alternative policies or programme for the Nigerian people.
“And if they say they do, they can as well go to Head to Head and be interrogated on that.”
Bwala said he was prepared to face any interviewer on the administration’s record.
“I have never, and will never, subscribe to ducking or dodging interviews on matters that concern promoting and defending the administration I was appointed to serve,” he said. “It is the least of what is required of me.”
He said he looked forward to a second round on the programme, adding that questions about his past would by then no longer be newsworthy, allowing the conversation to focus on the administration’s policy record and achievements.
“I am glad that by then questions about my past will no longer be news so that we can focus on our administration’s policies, programs, and what we have achieved so far,” he said.
