Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication, has broken his silence following a contentious interview with renowned journalist Mehdi Hasan on the programme Head to Head.
In a statement released from the State House, seen by Securitynewsalert.com, Bwala dismissed the social media firestorm surrounding his performance, characterising the backlash as “temporary excitement” from an opposition that lacks a viable alternative for Nigeria.
Addressing the viral nature of the exchange, Bwala emphasised that his role is to defend the Tinubu administration, not to seek personal popularity or public praise.
“When I signed on to the privileged job granted to me by Mr President, I was well aware of its implications,” Bwala stated. “Selling ice cream, looking fine, and seeking the praises of men were never part of it.”
He reiterated his commitment to the administration’s communication strategy, noting that he remains ready to face any interviewer globally to defend government policies “with ease and joy.”
A significant portion of the interview’s fallout centred on questions regarding Bwala’s past criticisms of President Tinubu. Bwala alleged that the production team at Head to Head misled him regarding the scope of the discussion.
“Nowhere in our almost six months of communication did they mention that they were going to challenge my past,” Bwala claimed. “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.”
Bwala further labelled Hasan’s approach as “opposition research-style journalism,” alleging that many of the quotes cited during the interview were “inaccurate” or “outright fake news.”
When confronted with his own history as a vocal critic of the current President, Bwala shrugged off the inconsistency as standard political manoeuvring, drawing parallels to international politics.
“As for what I said about President Tinubu in the past… it is all politics. Half of Donald Trump’s cabinet is made up of people who once spoke against him. Those things do not bother [President Tinubu] if you care to know.”
Despite the friction, Bwala maintained a level of professional respect for his interlocutor, describing Hasan as “arguably the best debater on the planet.” He expressed a desire for a “part two” of the interview, hoping future discussions would pivot away from personal history and toward policy achievements.
He concluded by mocking the opposition’s focus on the interview, suggesting they lack the “vision or mission” to manage Nigeria. Invoking a Hausa proverb, “Ga fili Ga doki” (Here is the field, here is the horse), he challenged his critics to prove their mettle on the same global stage.
