• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

Bwala also said he would not avoid public scrutiny or difficult interviews, stressing that he was ready to defend the administration on any platform. Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, has defended his recent absymal appearance on an Aljazeera interview, following widespread reactions on social media. Bwala addressed the controversy in a statement on Saturday, saying the backlash that followed his interview with journalist, Mehdi Hasan was expected and did not bother him. "In the last 24 hours, social media has exploded over my interview with Mehdi Hassan, albeit with varied opinions," Bwala said. "Let me set the record straight." He stated that when he accepted his role in the current administration, he understood that defending the government's policies and actions would be a major part of his responsibility. "When I signed on to the privileged job granted to me by Mr. President, I was well aware of its implications," he said. "Selling ice cream, looking fine, and seeking the praises of men were never part of it. But the task of promoting and defending the President and his administration is what I do with ease and joy." Bwala also said he would not avoid public scrutiny or difficult interviews, stressing that he was ready to defend the administration on any 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. He explained that the interview request from the programme was initially presented as a discussion focused on Nigeria's security situation, the economy and corruption. According to him, the producers never indicated that questions would be raised about his past political statements. "Head to Head contacted me requesting an interview, stating that they wanted to challenge our government on security, the economy, and corruption," he said. "Nowhere in our almost six months of communication did they mention that they were going to challenge my past." Bwala criticised the approach taken by the interviewer, accusing him of relying on what he described as "opposition research-style journalism." "I refused to swallow the pill of Mehdi's opposition research-style journalism," he said, adding that some of the quotes attributed to organisations during the interview were "inaccurate" or "outright fake news." Addressing criticism over his past comments about President Tinubu, Bwala said those statements were made when he belonged to the political opposition. "As for what I said about President Tinubu in the past, I am glad those were things I said when I was in the opposition saddle with such zeal," he said. "It is all politics." He argued that political figures often change positions and alliances over time, citing international examples. "Half of Donald Trump's cabinet is made up of people who once spoke against him," he said. Bwala also dismissed critics of his interview, describing many of them as members or supporters of opposition parties. "Their temporary excitement over the interview has not lasted and will not last," he said. "They lack vision and mission in managing a political party, yet they seek to manage Nigeria." Despite the criticism, Bwala said he still had respect for Hasan, whom he described as "arguably the best debater on the planet." "I still have admiration and respect for Mehdi Hassan," he said. "I look forward to part two of the Head to Head interview." He added that he hoped future discussions would focus more on the policies and achievements of the current administration. "By then questions about my past will no longer be news so that we can focus on our administration's policies, programmes and what we have achieved so far," Bwala said. Source: https://saharareporters.com/2026/03/07/things-i-said-about-tinubu-were-all-politics-its-my-past-daniel-bwala-makes-face-saving