April 11, 2026 | Politics | SUNTV Global Channel
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, has opened up on the backlash trailing his widely criticised interview on Al Jazeera, revealing that he underwent throat surgery shortly after the appearance.
Bwala made the disclosure during an interview on News Central’s 60 Minutes with Mr Kay, where he addressed the controversy sparked by his exchange with journalist Mehdi Hasan.
According to him, the surgery took place just eight days after the interview, although he did not link the procedure directly to the incident.
“Eight days after the interview with Mehdi Hasan, I underwent surgery on my throat… but in any case, I’m back and strong,” Bwala said.
He also used the platform to criticise a segment of social media users he referred to as “Obidients,” accusing them of prioritising political loyalty over national interest.
Bwala described the online backlash as politically motivated, alleging that critics were more focused on advancing their preferred political agenda than engaging objectively with national issues.
Defending his performance during the interview, Bwala argued that Hasan adopted what he termed “opposition-style journalism,” aimed at discrediting the Nigerian government.
He explained that much of the interview focused on his past remarks about President Tinubu—comments he made while he was in the opposition before defecting to the ruling party.
“I admitted to making those statements and even said I had said more, but I asked that we move on to more relevant issues,” he stated.
Bwala added that he eventually pushed back against the repeated line of questioning, warning that he would begin to deny the claims if the interviewer persisted.
The interview has continued to generate strong reactions online, with many Nigerians describing his outing as disappointing, especially after clips surfaced showing him denying past statements which were later backed by video evidence presented during the interview.
The exchange also touched on Nigeria’s security challenges, with references to reports by international human rights organisations—issues Bwala was criticised for not addressing with specific data.
The controversy has since kept the conversation active across social media platforms, highlighting ongoing debates about political accountability, media engagement, and public communication by government officials.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to track reactions and developments surrounding this story.
