Mixed reactions over Daniel Bwala’s interview with Al Jazeera’s Mehdi Hasan
…Defending Tinubu, his administration is what I do with ease, joy — Bwala The interview of Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala on Al Jazeera’s
...Defending Tinubu, his administration is what I do with ease, joy — Bwala
The interview of Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala on Al Jazeera’s “Head to Head” programme anchored by Mehdi Hasan has elicited flurry of reactions.
In the 49 minutes and 30 seconds long episode examining Tinubu’s administration under the theme “Nigeria: ‘Renewed Hope’ or ‘Hopelessness’?”, Hasan confronted Bwala with old quotes, clips, and statements from his time as an opposition figure aligned with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s campaign.
Bwala denied ever making such claims, saying, “I never said that” when pressed.
The president’s aide explained his shift, noting he was in opposition at the time, where “the job of opposition is to oppose”.
He added that those past statements were part of political rhetoric and no longer relevant in his current role defending the president.
Following the interview which has generated over 400,000 views on YouTube, many Nigerians took to various social media platforms to air their opinions. While some criticised Bwala's outing, others praised him for his composure and poise during the session.
Abubakar Evuti on X said: "Mr. Bwala is a brilliant man. He is as articulate but he suffered because of his own inconsistency. That’s why it’s important to make our words against political opponents as soft as possible in case the day comes when we have to eat those words."
Ira Andenwui said: "Daniel Bwala is a perfect representation of someone who has played both well. He used to be in the opposition and then switched to the incumbent. Playing opposition is not just for the fun of it or lying all just to paint the government of the day black."
For Kikiola Alade, "Bwala Daniel's response to his question/concern was well answered. Shifting sides does not have to be based only on moral ideas. It can be personal too."
Tope TeddyA said: "Bwala did his research on Mehdi Hassan but thought he could wing it in that interview."
Meanwhile, reacting to critics, Bwala in a press statement on Saturday said: "In the last 24 hours, social media has exploded over my interview with Mehdi Hassan, albeit with varied opinions. Let me set the record straight.
"When I signed on to the privileged job granted to me by Mr. President, I was well aware of its implications. Selling ice cream, looking fine, and seeking the praises of men were never part of it. Some of the fiercest critics of my interview can not even stand local TV anchors.
"But the task of promoting and defending the President and his administration is what I do with ease and joy. 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.
"I have never, and will never, subscribe to ducking or dodging interviews on matters that concern promoting and defending the administration I was appointed to serve. It is the least of what is required of me.
"Head to Head contacted me requesting an interview, stating that they wanted to challenge our government on security, the economy, and corruption.
"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 so I could prepare my response. But that’s okay, ethically, that is on them, not on me.
"I refused to swallow the pill of Mehdi’s “opposition research-style journalism,” and even today, if you carefully compare what he read as quotes from organisations and groups, you will see that many were inaccurate and some were outright fake news. But I will leave that for another day.
"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. It is all politics. Half of Donald Trump’s cabinet is made up of people who once spoke against him, and quite a number of people in our own cabinet also spoke against President Tinubu in the past. Those things do not bother him if you care to know.
"The majority of the naysayers are members of the opposition and their sympathisers. It does not bother me one bit. Their temporary excitement over the interview has not lasted and will not last, because it does not take away their obvious problem of lack of vision, mission in conducting and managing a political party; yet they seek to manage Nigeria.
"Clearly they have no path to victory and no alternative policies or program for the Nigerian people. And if they say they do, they can as well go to head to head and be interrogated on that; as the saying in Hausa goes “Ga fili Ga doki”
"I conclude by thanking the many Nigerians and non-Nigerians who sent in their commendations over my brave defence of our government in an interview where the anchor would hardly let you answer a question unless it suited his narrative.
"I still have admiration and respect for Mehdi Hassan as arguably the best debater on the planet. I look forward to part two of the Head to Head interview, and I am glad that by then questions about my past will no longer be news so that we can focus on our administration’s policies, programs and what we have achieved so far."
