NEWS
“Seeking The Praises of Men Was Never Part of It” — Daniel Bwala Speaks Out After Fiery Al Jazeera Interview with Mehdi Hasan
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has defended his recent controversial interview on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head programme, asserting that “seeking the praises of men was never part of” his decision to work for the President.
Bwala’s remarks come in the wake of public outrage following his appearance on the international platform anchored by renowned journalist Mehdi Hasan, during which he faced tough questions about Nigeria’s security, economy, and corruption.
According to reports, during the interview, Bwala denied knowledge of certain negative developments in the country. When Hasan pointedly asked about Nigeria’s status as the fifth deadliest country in the world and questioned whether the government takes pride in such statistics, Bwala responded, “I acknowledge the fact that we have insecurity in Nigeria, we began to see back-to-back attacks in Nigeria after the Christian genocide narratives.”
He further added, emphasizing the global context, that “no country in the world is free from security crises.”
The presidential aide also appeared uneasy when questioned about his past criticism of Tinubu and his controversial decision to join the ruling party, a move that has been widely discussed among Nigerians and political elites.
However, through a statement posted on his 𝕏 handle on Saturday, Bwala clarified his position and highlighted the joy and ease with which he defends and promotes President Tinubu’s administration.
“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,” Bwala said.
He continued:
“When I signed on to the privileged job granted to me by Mr. President, I was well aware of its implications. Selling ice cream, looking fine, and seeking the praises of men were never part of it. Some of the fiercest critics of my interview cannot even stand local TV anchors. But the task of promoting and defending the President and his administration is what I do with ease and joy. 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.
“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. It is the least of what is required of me.
“Head to Head contacted me requesting an interview, stating that they wanted to challenge our government on security, the economy, and corruption. Nowhere in our almost six months of communication did they mention that they were going to challenge my past. If that had been their plan, ethically and professionally, they were supposed to inform me so I could prepare my response. But that’s okay, ethically, that is on them, not on me.
“I refused to swallow the pill of Mehdi’s ‘opposition research-style journalism,’ and even today, if you carefully compare what he read as quotes from organisations and groups, you will see that many were inaccurate and some were outright fake news. But I will leave that for another day.”
Bwala went on to contextualize his past criticisms, stressing that political dynamics naturally evolve:
“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. Half of Donald Trump’s cabinet is made up of people who once spoke against him, and quite a number of people in our own cabinet also spoke against President Tinubu in the past. Those things do not bother him if you care to know.”
He also addressed the criticism from opposition members and their sympathizers:
“The majority of the naysayers are members of the opposition and their sympathisers. It does not bother me one bit. Their temporary excitement over the interview has not lasted and will not last, because it does not take away their obvious problem of lack of vision, mission in conducting and managing a political party; yet they seek to manage Nigeria. Clearly they have no path to victory and no alternative policies or program for the Nigerian people. And if they say they do, they can as well go to Head to Head and be interrogated on that; as the saying in Hausa goes ‘Ga fili Ga doki.’”
Bwala concluded by expressing gratitude to supporters and reiterating his admiration for Mehdi Hasan’s debating prowess:
“I conclude by thanking the many Nigerians and non-Nigerians who sent in their commendations over my brave defence of our government in an interview where the anchor would hardly let you answer a question unless it suited his narrative.
“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, and I am glad that by then questions about my past will no longer be news so that we can focus on our administration’s policies, programs and what we have achieved so far.”
Bwala’s statement signals a firm stance on defending the Tinubu administration’s record, while also highlighting the tension that often accompanies high-profile political interviews on the international stage.