Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has defended his performance during a recent interview on Al Jazeera’s programme, Head to Head, following widespread criticism on social media.
The interview, hosted by journalist Mehdi Hasan and aired on Thursday, sparked heated reactions online after clips circulated widely on X, with many critics describing Bwala’s appearance as embarrassing.
During the programme, Hasan confronted the presidential aide with several past statements he made about Tinubu before defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general elections.
In the exchange, Hasan cited earlier remarks in which Bwala had reportedly labelled Tinubu corrupt and unfit to lead Nigeria. When Bwala denied making some of the statements, the host produced video clips to support the claims, drawing further criticism from viewers online.
The discussion also touched on Nigeria’s security challenges, with Hasan referencing reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Critics later argued that Bwala struggled to counter the figures presented during the interview.
However, in a statement issued on Saturday, Bwala dismissed the backlash, describing it as predictable reactions from opposition supporters.
“The majority of the naysayers are members of the opposition and their sympathisers. It does not bother me one bit,” he said.
The presidential aide added that defending the administration was part of his responsibility and not a quest for public approval.
“Selling ice cream, looking fine and seeking the praises of men were never part of my job description. Promoting and defending the President and his administration is what I do with ease and joy,” he stated.
Bwala also revealed that the programme contacted him nearly six months ago for an interview focused on issues such as security, corruption and the economy, but did not indicate that his past statements would be a subject of scrutiny.
“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,” he said.
He accused Hasan of using what he described as “opposition research-style journalism,” claiming some of the quotes cited during the programme were inaccurate while others amounted to “outright fake news.”
On his previous criticisms of Tinubu before joining the government, Bwala said such remarks were part of political contestation.
“It is all politics,” he said, noting that several members of the cabinet of former U.S. President Donald Trump had once criticised him before later serving in his administration.
Despite the disagreement, Bwala described Hasan as “arguably the best debater on the planet” and said he would be open to appearing again on the programme to focus on the administration’s policies and achievements.
Backlash Trails Bwala’s Al Jazeera Interview as Aide Defends Performance
