Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has responded to criticism from Nigerians following his recent interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head programme.
Bwala faced heavy scrutiny online after the interview aired, with many social media users resurfacing his past remarks about Tinubu made before he joined the current administration.
Addressing the backlash in a statement, the presidential aide explained that the comments he made about the president in the past were expressed while he was part of the political opposition.
According to him, such statements should be viewed within the context of politics.
“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,” he wrote.
Bwala said he accepted the interview knowing the responsibility that comes with defending the government and its policies.
“Selling ice cream, looking fine, and seeking the praises of men were never part of it. The task of promoting and defending the President and his administration is what I do with ease and joy,” he stated.
He added that he is willing to appear before any interviewer, anywhere in the world, to defend the administration.
“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.
Bwala also criticised the style of the interview, claiming the programme’s team did not inform him beforehand that they would focus on his past comments.
“Nowhere in our almost six months of communication did they mention that they were going to challenge my past,” he said, adding that such disclosure would have allowed him to prepare his responses.
The presidential aide further argued that political figures often criticise opponents before later working together, noting that this is common in politics globally.
“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,” he explained.
Bwala also dismissed the criticism from some Nigerians, describing many of his critics as members or sympathisers of opposition parties.
He concluded by thanking supporters who praised his performance in the interview and expressed admiration for Mehdi Hasan as a skilled debater.
“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,” he said.
