Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, has pushed back against the criticism that followed his appearance on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head programme, insisting that he has no regrets about defending the administration during the interview.
The programme, hosted by Mehdi Hassan, aired on Thursday and quickly generated strong reactions online. Clips from the interview circulated widely on social media platform X, where many critics described Bwala’s performance as disappointing and embarrassing.
During the interview, Hassan confronted Bwala with several statements he had made in the past when he was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party before defecting to the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2023 elections. In those earlier remarks, Bwala had criticised Tinubu, describing him as corrupt, unfit for leadership and even referring to him as a drug baron.
When questioned about the comments during the interview, Bwala denied making some of them. Hassan then played video clips showing Bwala making the remarks, which sparked further debate and ridicule on social media.
The host also challenged him on Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, referring to reports and data from organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Critics later argued online that Bwala struggled to counter the figures presented during the discussion.
Responding to the controversy in a statement released on Saturday, Bwala dismissed the backlash as predictable, suggesting it was largely driven by opposition supporters. According to him, the criticism would not distract him from carrying out his responsibilities in the Tinubu administration.
He said most of the people attacking him were aligned with opposition parties and were merely expressing temporary excitement. In his view, their reactions did not address what he described as their own political weaknesses, including a lack of clear direction and strategy for running their parties.
Bwala also rejected claims that his performance during the interview was poor. He emphasised that his role is not about impressing viewers or seeking public praise but about representing and defending the policies and actions of the government he serves.
According to him, the invitation to appear on Head to Head came nearly six months earlier. He explained that the programme’s producers had informed him that the discussion would focus on issues such as national security, the economy and corruption. However, he said he was not told that his personal political history would become a central part of the conversation.
Bwala argued that if the intention had been to question him about past comments, the producers should have communicated that beforehand so he could properly prepare his responses. Still, he maintained that the decision not to do so reflected on the programme rather than on him.
He further accused Hassan of relying on what he described as “opposition-style research journalism,” alleging that some of the quotes attributed to him during the interview were either inaccurate or completely fabricated. Bwala said he would respond to those claims at a later time.
Addressing his previous criticisms of Tinubu, Bwala said he had no reason to deny them because they were made when he belonged to the opposition. He noted that strong rhetoric is common in political competition and that such shifts in alliances are not unusual.
To illustrate his point, he pointed to the United States, noting that several members of former President Donald Trump’s cabinet had once been vocal critics of him before later working in his administration. Bwala added that similar situations exist within Nigeria’s own government, where some officials had previously spoken against Tinubu before eventually joining his team.
He also took aim at opposition parties, claiming they lacked a clear strategy for winning elections or offering credible alternatives to the government’s policies. According to him, if they believed they had better ideas, they should be willing to appear on platforms such as Head to Head and subject themselves to similar scrutiny.
Bwala stressed that he is always prepared to represent the administration in public discussions and interviews. He said avoiding difficult questions or refusing to engage with critics was not an option for someone in his position.
The presidential adviser also expressed interest in returning to the programme for another round of discussion. He suggested that by then, attention would likely shift away from his past political comments and focus more on evaluating the policies and achievements of the Tinubu administration.
Despite his complaints about the conduct of the interview, Bwala acknowledged Hassan’s reputation as a formidable interviewer and debater. He described the Al Jazeera host as one of the most skilled debaters in the world and said he still respects and admires him.
He also expressed gratitude to supporters who praised what they saw as his firm defence of the government during the programme. According to Bwala, many Nigerians and viewers outside the country commended him for taking part in what he described as a challenging interview where the host often interrupted or limited his responses unless they aligned with the direction of the discussion.
