Daniel Bwala, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and policy communication, has mounted a forceful defence of the administration following backlash over his recent interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan on Al Jazeera.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Daniel Bwala dismissed the criticism that followed his appearance on the programme Head to Head as “temporary excitement” driven by political opponents who, he said, had neither the “vision nor mission” to govern Nigeria.
The presidential aide said defending the Tinubu administration was part of his duty and declared he was prepared to do so “anywhere in the world, any day, any time.”
The interview, which circulated widely on social media after its broadcast, featured a combative exchange between Bwala and Hasan over Nigeria’s security situation, economic policy and corruption allegations.
Clips from the programme prompted sharp reactions online, with critics pointing out Bwala’s previous public criticisms of Tinubu before joining the administration.
Responding to the controversy, Bwala accused Hasan’s team of conducting what he described as “ambush journalism.”
According to him, discussions about the appearance lasted for six months and were centred on questions about the government’s policies rather than his earlier opposition-era remarks about the president.
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He argued that references to those past comments during the interview amounted to “inaccurate” quotations and “fake news.”
Bwala also downplayed the importance of his previous criticisms of Tinubu, describing them as routine political exchanges and noting that political rivals often work together in government.
He pointed to examples in international politics, including former critics serving in the cabinet of former US president Donald Trump.
In a pointed message to opposition supporters, Bwala insisted those attacking him online should be prepared to defend their own policies in similar public forums.
Using the Hausa expression “Ga fili ga doki,” roughly translated as “the field is open, show the horse’s teeth,” he challenged them to appear on the same programme.
Despite his criticism of the interview format, Bwala praised Hasan as “the best debater on the planet” and called for a second appearance on Head to Head.
“By then, my past will no longer be the issue. Let us focus on what this administration has achieved,” he said.