Daniel Bwala, special adviser on media and public communications to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has defended his appearance on Al Jazeera, saying the network never disclosed beforehand that the interview would centre on his past criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Gatekeepers News reports that Bwala spoke following reactions that trailed his appearance on “Head to Head”, a current affairs programme on Al Jazeera hosted by journalist Mehdi Hasan. The interview, which focused on the performance of the Tinubu administration, has generated intense debate on social media and within political circles.
During the programme, Hasan questioned Bwala on several national issues, including Nigeria’s economic reforms, corruption concerns and the country’s security situation.
A key moment of the discussion came when the host confronted the presidential aide with past remarks he made while he was still aligned with the opposition, where he had strongly criticised Tinubu.
The exchange quickly went viral online after video clips showing Hasan quoting Bwala’s previous statements circulated widely, sparking public criticism and political commentary.
Reacting to the controversy, Bwala said the producers of the programme had contacted him months earlier to request an interview on governance issues in Nigeria, particularly the economy, corruption and security challenges under the current administration.
He insisted that throughout their discussions, the organisers never indicated that he would be confronted with his earlier political statements about Tinubu.
“Nowhere in our almost six months of communication did they mention that they were going to challenge my past,” Bwala said, adding that he would have prepared more detailed responses if he had been informed beforehand.
The presidential aide also criticised the approach taken during the interview, alleging that the programme relied on what he described as opposition-style research and claiming that some of the quotes attributed to him were either inaccurate or misrepresented.
Despite his objections, Bwala maintained that he is willing to continue appearing on international media platforms to explain and defend the policies of the Nigerian government.
He also addressed criticism over his previous remarks about Tinubu, explaining that those comments were made when he belonged to the political opposition.
According to him, shifts in political alliances are common in democratic systems, and it is not unusual for individuals who once criticised a political figure to later work within that leader’s administration.
Bwala pointed to examples in global politics, including officials in the administration of United States President Donald Trump who had previously criticised him before later serving in his government.
The interview and Bwala’s reaction have triggered mixed responses among Nigerians. While some supporters commended him for accepting a tough international interview to represent the government, critics argued that questions about his past statements were legitimate and part of normal journalistic scrutiny.
Bwala, however, said he holds no personal grievance against Hasan, describing him as a formidable debater. He added that he remains open to future engagements with international media, especially discussions that focus more extensively on the policies and reforms of the Tinubu administration.
