How Aljazeera disgraced Presidential aide, Bwala for trying to defend Tinubu

Daniel Bwala, now Special Adviser to Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, has denied ever criticising Tinubu after being confronted with his past statements.

The presidential aide made the denial during an appearance on Al Jazeera’s “Head to Head” programme anchored by Mehdi Hasan.

During the explosive interview, Hasan confronted Bwala with old quotes, clips, and statements from his time as an opposition figure aligned with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s campaign.

When the host, while examining Tinubu’s administration under the theme “Nigeria: ‘Renewed Hope’ or ‘Hopelessness’?” referenced Bwala’s January 22, 2023, claim that Tinubu had created a militia to corruptly influence the election, he denied making the remark.

Hasan also brought up Bwala’s past remark about suspicious cash movements into Tinubu’s residence during an election, to which he again responded, “I never said that.”

“You said Tinubu started a militia to sway the election corruptly,” Hasan replied to Bwala.

Clips shared on social media showed him saying that, in the past, Tinubu or his associates had threatened him. He also mentioned facing intimidation after criticizing the then-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bwala denied making those claims and said, “I never said that” when asked.

The president’s aide explained why his position changed, saying he was in the opposition at the time, where “the job of opposition is to oppose.”

He added that his earlier statements were political rhetoric and do not matter now that he is defending the president.