Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, has defended his appearance on the international television programme Head to Head on Al Jazeera following widespread criticism on social media.
The interview, hosted by journalist Mehdi Hasan and broadcast on Thursday, quickly generated strong reactions online after clips from the discussion circulated widely on the social media platform X.
During the interview, Hasan confronted Bwala with several statements he had made before the 2023 Nigerian general election when he was still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, a major opposition political party in Nigeria. At the time, Bwala had publicly criticised Tinubu, who later became president after winning the election.
When Bwala denied making some of the remarks cited during the interview, Hasan played video clips of earlier recordings showing the statements, a moment that triggered further criticism online and renewed debate about the adviser’s past comments.
The interviewer also raised questions about Nigeria’s security situation, citing reports by international human rights organisations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Critics of the interview said Bwala struggled to present figures to counter some of the claims raised during the discussion.
In a statement released on Saturday, Bwala rejected the criticism and suggested that most of the backlash was coming from political opponents and their supporters.
“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 and mission in conducting and managing a political party.”
He also dismissed claims that his performance during the debate had been weak, saying his responsibility was to promote and defend the policies of the government he serves.
“Selling ice cream, looking fine, and seeking the praises of men were never part of” his job description, he said, adding that promoting and defending the President and his administration was what he did “with ease and joy.”
Bwala explained that the producers of Head to Head contacted him nearly six months earlier to request an interview that would challenge the Nigerian government on issues such as security, the economy and corruption. However, he said the programme did not inform him in advance that his previous political statements would be raised.
“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.”
He accused Hasan of using what he described as “opposition research-style journalism” and alleged that some of the quotes presented during the interview were inaccurate.
According to Bwala, some of the statements attributed to him were incorrect while others were “outright fake news”, adding that he would respond to the claims at a later time.
Reflecting on his earlier criticism of Tinubu before joining the current administration, Bwala said such comments were typical in competitive politics and should not be seen as unusual.
“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 criticised Nigeria’s opposition parties, arguing that they lacked clear policy alternatives for the country.
“They have no path to victory and no alternative policies or programme for the Nigerian people.
“And if they say they do, they can as well go to Head to Head and be interrogated on that.”
Bwala said he remains ready to appear on media platforms anywhere in the world to defend the administration’s 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,” he said. “It is the least of what is required of me.”
He also expressed interest in returning to the programme for another debate, saying future conversations could focus on the government’s policies and achievements rather than his previous statements.
Despite his complaints about how the interview was handled, Bwala praised Hasan’s debating skills and said he still respected the journalist, describing him as “arguably the best debater on the planet.”