Daniel Bwala, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on policy communication, has accused Al Jazeera of editing his recent interview to create a misleading impression of his statements.
Bwala made the claim during a conversation with on-air personality Daddy Freeze, reacting to widespread reactions that followed the broadcast.
According to him, parts of the interview were taken out of context.
“There is a fact that was incorrectly portrayed and has formed the basis of many opinions online, which was unfortunately pushed by Al Jazeera. I asked them to put the record straight,” he said.
The interview appeared on the programme Head to Head, hosted by journalist Mehdi Hasan.
Claim of edited footage
Bwala explained that the interview was originally recorded on February 11 and lasted about one hour and 20 minutes.
According to him, the version eventually released online on March 5 was significantly shorter.
“The interview was conducted properly. Questions were asked, and I answered them. I didn’t deny anything,” he said.
He noted that the version uploaded online lasted about 49 minutes, while another clip circulating on social media was around eight minutes long, containing selected segments of the discussion.
Bwala argued that these edited clips emphasised certain responses while excluding other parts that provided context.
Call for full interview release
The presidential aide said the network had initially informed him that the full interview would first air on television before being uploaded online.
However, he said the broadcast schedule changed due to global developments involving Israel, Iran, and the United States.
Despite the change, the edited version was still released online, he said.
Bwala, therefore, urged the network to release the complete interview so viewers can see the entire conversation.
Questions about past statements
The interview drew significant attention after Hasan questioned Bwala about statements he allegedly made about President Tinubu before later joining the administration.
During the programme, Bwala denied making some of the remarks referenced by the host.
The interview also touched on the appointment of Abubakar Bagudu as minister of budget and economic planning.
Hasan cited allegations mentioned in a report by the United States Department of Justice linking Bagudu to financial activities associated with former military ruler Sani Abacha.
Responding, Bwala said there was no evidence that Bagudu misappropriated funds, adding that decisions by courts in the United States do not bind the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
