March 7, 2026
News
The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has responded to the wave of criticism that followed his controversial appearance on Al Jazeera, insisting that his past remarks against the president were made purely for political reasons.
Bwala made the clarification on Saturday after his interview on the programme Head to Head with journalist Mehdi Hasan sparked widespread reactions across social media.
In a statement addressing the controversy, Bwala said he was not surprised by the backlash, noting that defending the administration of President Tinubu naturally attracts public scrutiny.
According to him, accepting the role of presidential media adviser meant he understood the responsibilities and pressure that would come with publicly defending government policies.
He stressed that his job was not about seeking public approval but about promoting and explaining the policies and programmes of the current administration.
Bwala also stated that he remained open to difficult interviews and was willing to defend the government’s actions on any global platform.
“I am prepared to appear before any interviewer, anywhere in the world, any day and at any time to defend this government and its policies,” he said.
The presidential aide explained that the interview was originally presented as a discussion about Nigeria’s security challenges, the economy and corruption. However, he said the programme unexpectedly shifted its focus to his past political statements.
According to Bwala, the producers never indicated during months of communication that his previous comments about President Tinubu would become the centre of the conversation.
He further criticised the interview approach, accusing the host of relying on what he described as “opposition-style research journalism.”
Bwala also argued that some references made to organisations during the interview were either inaccurate or misleading.
Responding to renewed attention on his earlier criticism of Tinubu, Bwala admitted that the remarks were made when he was part of the political opposition.
He described the comments as typical of political rivalry, insisting that shifting political alliances is common in democratic systems.
“As for what I said about President Tinubu in the past, those were statements made while I was in the opposition. It is all politics,” he said.
To support his argument, Bwala pointed out that political leaders across the world often appoint former critics into government positions, citing the administration of Donald Trump as an example.
Despite the heated debate surrounding the interview, Bwala said he still respects Hasan, describing him as one of the best debaters in global media.
He added that he would welcome another opportunity to appear on the programme, expressing hope that future discussions would focus more on the policies and achievements of the Tinubu administration rather than his past political statements.
Bwala concluded that once questions about his political history fade, public discourse should shift toward evaluating the government’s programmes and progress.
