…A disaster of gargantuan proportions – Moghalu
Our Reporter, Abuja
Strong criticisms have continued to trail the recent interview granted by Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala on the Head to Head programme of Al Jazeera, anchored by journalist Mehdi Hasan.
The interview, which has circulated widely on social media, has sparked intense debate, with critics accusing Bwala of failing to convincingly defend the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while supporters commended him for appearing on a global platform to represent the government.
Reacting to the controversy, Bwala himself, who serves as Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication, said he remained committed to defending the government and its policies before any audience.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the presidential aide said criticism of the interview was largely driven by opposition figures and their sympathisers, insisting that confronting tough interviewers was part of his responsibility.
“When I signed on to the privileged job granted to me by Mr. President, I was well aware of its implications. The task of promoting and defending the President and his administration is what I do with ease and joy,” Bwala said.
He maintained that he was prepared to appear before “any interviewer, anywhere in the world” to defend the administration and its policies.
Bwala also faulted the interview format, alleging that the programme failed to inform him in advance that questions would focus on his past criticisms of President Tinubu.
According to him, the host relied on what he described as inaccurate quotes from organisations during the exchange, adding that he would address those issues at a later time.
Addressing questions about his previous comments against the President, Bwala said the remarks were made when he was in the opposition and should be understood within the context of political competition.
However, the interview has drawn sharp criticism from political commentators and opposition figures.
Kingsley Moghalu Reacts
Former presidential candidate and political economist Kingsley Moghalu described the interview as damaging to Nigeria’s image, particularly given the global reach of the programme.
According to him, the exchange portrayed Nigeria negatively and raised concerns about the standards used in appointing government spokespersons.
“The interview was a disaster of gargantuan proportions for Nigeria as a country, for President Tinubu’s administration, and for Bwala himself,” Moghalu said.
He also questioned the decision to appoint former critics of the President as government spokespersons after they defected, arguing that such individuals often carry credibility challenges because of their previous public attacks on the administration they later defend.
Atiku’s aide
Similarly, Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, criticised Bwala’s defence of the government during the interview.
In a statement titled “Weep Not for Bwala, Weep for Nigeria,” Shaibu said the exchange exposed contradictions between Bwala’s earlier criticisms of the Tinubu administration and his current role as a spokesperson for the same government.
According to him, the interviewer confronted Bwala with previous statements he had made about President Tinubu, which he said forced the presidential aide to justify his change of position as political.
Shaibu also accused Bwala of dismissing criticisms from credible organisations regarding governance failures as “fake news” instead of addressing them with evidence.
Despite the backlash, Bwala thanked those who commended his performance, insisting that he stood by his defence of the administration during the interview.
He also expressed respect for Hasan, whom he described as “arguably the best debater on the planet,” and said he looked forward to a possible second appearance on the programme.
The controversy surrounding the interview continues to trend on social media platforms, reflecting growing political divisions over the performance of the current administration and the role of its spokespersons on the international stage.
