By John Umeh
Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, has reacted to the criticism that followed his recent appearance on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head, insisting he stands by his performance and would defend the Tinubu administration anywhere in the world.
The interview, which aired on Thursday and was moderated by Mehdi Hassan, quickly stirred reactions online, especially on social media platform X, where several clips circulated widely. Many critics claimed Bwala struggled during the discussion and described his outing as embarrassing.
During the programme, Hassan repeatedly referenced Bwala’s past comments about President Tinubu made before the 2023 elections when he was still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. In those earlier remarks, Bwala had reportedly described Tinubu as corrupt, unfit for leadership, and even linked him to drug-related allegations.
When Bwala disputed some of the statements attributed to him during the interview, the host presented video clips showing the comments, a moment that triggered further criticism from viewers online.
Hassan also challenged Bwala on Nigeria’s worsening security situation, citing reports from international organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Observers noted that Bwala appeared to struggle to counter the figures presented during the discussion.
However, in a statement released on Saturday, Bwala dismissed the backlash, describing it as the predictable reaction of political opponents and their supporters. According to him, the criticisms were temporary and did not distract him from his responsibilities as a presidential spokesman.
He maintained that his role was not to seek public approval but to promote and defend the policies and actions of the administration he serves.
Bwala also revealed that producers of the Head to Head programme had contacted him almost six months earlier, indicating their interest in questioning him about issues such as security, corruption, and the economy. He said at no point during their discussions did they inform him that his past political comments would become a central focus of the interview.
According to him, professional ethics would have required the programme’s organisers to alert him if they intended to revisit his previous remarks so he could adequately prepare a response.
He further accused Hassan of employing what he described as “opposition-style research,” claiming that some of the statements presented during the interview were either inaccurate or completely fabricated. Bwala said he would address those claims in detail at a later time.
On the issue of his past criticism of Tinubu, Bwala expressed no regret, explaining that such exchanges are common in partisan politics. He noted that political alliances often change, adding that several members of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s cabinet had previously criticised him before eventually joining his administration.
Bwala said similar situations exist in Nigeria’s political environment, where individuals who once criticised leaders later work with them.
He also took a swipe at opposition parties, arguing that they lack clear policies or a convincing roadmap for the country. According to him, those who believe they have better ideas should also subject themselves to the same kind of public scrutiny on international platforms.
The presidential aide emphasised that he has never avoided media engagements and remains willing to defend the government’s policies and achievements before any interviewer.
He added that he would welcome another appearance on the programme, saying that future discussions could focus more on the administration’s programmes and accomplishments rather than his past political statements.
Despite his reservations about how the interview was conducted, Bwala described Hassan as one of the world’s most skilled debaters and said he still holds him in high regard.
He also expressed appreciation to Nigerians and foreign viewers who, according to him, commended his willingness to defend the government during what he described as a challenging interview environment where the host frequently interrupted his responses.
