Bwala responds to backlash over Al Jazeera interview

Daniel Bwala, special adviser on policy communication to Bola Tinubu, has addressed reactions following his appearance on the programme Head to Head on Al Jazeera, saying he is willing to defend the Nigerian government in any forum.

Bwala appeared on the programme hosted by Mehdi Hasan, where discussions centred on the policies and performance of the current administration.

During the interview, Hasan referenced several past remarks attributed to Bwala from the period when he was aligned with the presidential campaign of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar.

Some of the statements cited were critical of Tinubu and his political record. The interviewer also raised a past allegation claiming Bwala once said Tinubu created a militia to influence an election, an assertion the presidential aide rejected during the exchange.

Questions were also raised about the administration’s anti-corruption stance, including the appointment of Abubakar Bagudu as minister of budget and economic planning.

Clips from the interview quickly circulated on social media, prompting widespread reactions and debate.

Bwala says past comments were made while in opposition

Responding to the reactions in a statement shared on X, Bwala said the discussion online had prompted him to clarify his position.

He said accepting a role in government meant being prepared to defend the administration and its policies in challenging environments and before critical audiences.

According to him, avoiding difficult interviews is not part of his approach to public communication.

Bwala explained that the producers of the programme initially indicated that the conversation would focus on issues such as security, the economy, and corruption.

However, he said the discussion eventually shifted toward his past statements made while he was part of the political opposition.

He also criticised the style of questioning during the programme, arguing that some of the claims and quotes presented during the interview were inaccurate.

Bwala maintained that his earlier criticisms of Tinubu were made during his time in the opposition and should be understood within the context of political competition.

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He further dismissed reactions from political opponents, describing them as driven by partisan interests rather than genuine concern about the issues discussed.

Despite the disagreements during the interview, Bwala described Hasan as a strong debater and said he would welcome another appearance on the programme to further discuss the policies and achievements of the administration.