Presidential aide Daniel Bwala has responded to the reactions trailing his appearance on Al Jazeera’s “Head to Head,” saying he remains prepared to defend the administration of President Bola Tinubu on any platform globally.
Bwala, who serves as special adviser to the president on policy communication, featured on the programme hosted by Mehdi Hasan, where he answered questions about the policies of the Tinubu administration and comments he made in the past while he was in the opposition.
The episode, titled “Nigeria: ‘Renewed Hope’ or ‘Hopelessness’?”, saw Hasan present old statements and video clips of Bwala from the period when he was aligned with the presidential campaign of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar.
During the exchange, the host cited a statement allegedly made by Bwala on January 22, 2023, claiming that Tinubu had created a militia to manipulate the election — an allegation the presidential aide denied.
Hasan also questioned the administration’s anti-corruption credentials, referencing the appointment of Abubakar Bagudu as minister of budget and economic planning.
Clips from the interview quickly spread across social media platforms, sparking widespread debate and mixed reactions.
Reacting to the discussions in a post on X, Bwala said the surge of commentary over the interview prompted him to clarify certain issues.
“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.
The presidential aide said he took up the role in government knowing it required him to defend the administration’s policies in difficult forums and before critical audiences.
“When I signed on to the privileged job granted to me by Mr. President, I was well aware of its implications… 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 stressed that he does not believe in avoiding tough interviews.
“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,” he added.
According to him, producers of the programme had initially indicated that the discussion would focus on issues such as the economy, security, and corruption.
However, he said he was not informed that much of the interview would centre on statements he made before joining the current administration.
Bwala also criticised aspects of the interview, alleging that some quotes attributed to organisations and groups were inaccurate.
“I refused to swallow the pill of Mehdi’s ‘opposition research-style journalism,’” he said, adding that some of the claims referenced during the discussion amounted to “outright fake news.”
Addressing questions about his previous criticisms of Tinubu, Bwala explained that those remarks were made while he belonged to the political opposition and should be viewed in that context.
“It is all politics,” he said, noting that several individuals in other governments — including members of the cabinet of former U.S. President Donald Trump — had once criticised the leaders they later served.
The presidential aide also dismissed criticism from political opponents over the interview, saying their reactions were driven largely by partisan considerations.
He added that critics were free to appear on the same programme to present and defend their own viewpoints.
Despite the controversy, Bwala expressed appreciation to Nigerians and others who commended his performance during the interview.
He also maintained his respect for Hasan, describing him as “arguably the best debater on the planet,” and said he would welcome the opportunity for another round of discussion.
“I look forward to part two of the Head-to-Head interview,” he said, adding that he hopes future engagements would focus more on the administration’s policies and achievements.
