A new presidential aide, Daniel Bwala, on Monday, fired back at Senator Ali Ndume, who asked him to apologize for his previous attacks on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC.)
Bwala was appointed Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication by President Bola Tinubu last Thursday.
Ndume, following the appointment, had in a statement on Sunday, called on Bwala to apologize for his past conduct, particularly his opposition to the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate in 2023.
However, speaking during his first appearance since his appointment, in a session with State House Correspondents at the Aso Rock Villa on Monday, Bwala dismissed Ndume’s advice, saying he enjoys a ‘fantastic’ relationship with the Vice President.
He said, “Ordinarily, I would not have responded to his issue because when I was referred to what he said, I immediately contacted the Vice President. We both cracked jokes about that. I have a very fantastic relationship with the Vice President, which even started before the judgment of the court was delivered regarding the matter.
“The relationship became stronger in the build-up to the emergence of the leadership of the National Assembly. Since then, we’ve been having a very good relationship.
“But I know that the senator in question is having some troubled times; all I can say is that we need to pray for him, for God to guide and help him. But we are focused on the work of the President. It’s not about Bwala. It’s about the president.”
He said he is replacing Ajuri Ngelale, who took an indefinite leave last September as President Tinubu’s official spokesperson.
The appointment of Bwala by President Tinubu has generated intense debate, considering his vocal criticism of the president and the All Progressives Congress and also his prior position as a spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential campaign.
With veteran journalist, Mr Bayo Onanuga serving as Special Adviser on Information and Strategy and former Sports Minister, Sunday Dare as Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation, Bwala’s appointment also makes him the third Special Adviser to the President on a media-related role.
Fielding questions on concerns about overlap of roles, Bwala said, “There is no issue as to the differences in terms of the responsibility. Everybody knows his responsibility. I am not here to define the responsibility of anybody other than myself because it will amount to gaslighting anybody.
“I only came to introduce myself to you and the role that was given to me by Mr President. I told you that role was once occupied by Ajuri Ngelale, but for God’s sake, we are all colleagues. We are not particularly bothered about who is this or who is that. We are working to achieve the mandate of Mr President.”
