Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has denied claims that he once accused the president of creating a militia to influence the 2023 presidential election.
Bwala made the clarification during a recent appearance on Al Jazeera’s “Head to Head” programme, hosted by journalist Mehdi Hasan.
The episode, which examined the Tinubu administration under the theme “Nigeria: ‘Renewed Hope’ or ‘Hopelessness’?”, saw Hasan confront the presidential aide with past remarks and statements from when he was a member of the opposition and a supporter of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign.
During the interview, Hasan referenced a remark allegedly made by Bwala on January 22, 2023, in which he was said to have accused Tinubu of forming a militia to manipulate the election.
“You said Tinubu started a militia to sway the election corruptly,” Hasan told him during the programme.
However, Bwala firmly rejected the claim.
“Tinubu didn’t create a militia, and I never said that,” he replied.
Hasan also brought up another past comment allegedly made by Bwala regarding suspicious cash movements into Tinubu’s residence during the election period.
Bwala again denied making the allegation.
“I never said that,” he insisted.
Clips circulating on social media had previously shown Bwala accusing Tinubu or members of his political camp of intimidation, including claims that he faced threats after criticising the then All Progressives Congress presidential candidate.
But when asked about those remarks during the interview, Bwala once again denied making such claims.
“I never said that,” he stated.
Explaining his previous statements, Bwala said many of the comments attributed to him were made when he was part of the political opposition.
According to him, political rhetoric is often part of opposition strategy.
“The job of opposition is to oppose,” he said.
Bwala added that those statements should be understood within the context of political debate at the time, noting that his current role in government is to defend and communicate the policies of President Tinubu’s administration.
