Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, has pushed back against widespread criticism following his appearance on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head programme with journalist Mehdi Hasan, insisting the backlash stems largely from opposition sympathisers and that his past remarks about Tinubu were purely political.
The interview, titled "Nigeria: ‘Renewed Hope’ or ‘Hopelessness’?", aired on March 6, 2026, and was recorded before a live audience at Conway Hall in London.
It focused on the Tinubu administration’s performance on security, the economy, and corruption issues the programme team had outlined in advance during nearly six months of communication with Bwala.
In a statement issued on Saturday, March 7, 2026, Bwala said he was caught off guard when Hasan confronted him with his earlier critical statements about President Tinubu made while he was in the opposition.
“Nowhere in our almost six months of communication did they mention that they were going to challenge my past,” he noted.
“If that had been their plan, ethically and professionally they were supposed to inform me so I could prepare my response. But that is ok, ethically, that is on them, not on me.”
Bwala accused Hasan of employing “opposition research-style journalism,” claiming some quoted material from organisations and groups was “inaccurate” or “outright fake news.”
He added he “refused to swallow the pill” and would address specifics another time.On his previous anti-Tinubu comments made during the 2023 election cycle while supporting former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Bwala described them as zealous opposition rhetoric. “It is all politics,” he said.
“Half of Donald Trump’s cabinet is made up of people who once spoke against him, and quite a number of people in our own cabinet also spoke against President Tinubu in the past. Those things do not bother him, if you care to know.”
The presidential aide emphasised that accepting the role meant embracing the duty to defend and promote the administration “with ease and joy.”
He declared himself ready to face any interviewer worldwide at any time to champion the government’s policies, contrasting his willingness with critics who “cannot even stand local television anchors.”
Bwala dismissed the social media storm as temporary excitement from those lacking vision or alternative programmes for Nigeria. Quoting a Hausa proverb “Ga fili, ga doki” (Here is the field, here is the horse) he challenged opponents to appear on Head to Head themselves if they have viable policies.
He expressed continued admiration for Mehdi Hasan as “one of the best debaters in the world” and expressed hope for a second part focused more on the administration’s policies and programmes.
The interview sparked significant online backlash, with many Nigerians viewing Bwala’s responses as evasive or inconsistent, while some praised his composure.
Clips went viral, fueling debates about political flip-flopping and government communication strategy.
No immediate comment from the presidency or Al Jazeera has been reported on Bwala’s statement as of March 9, 2026.
The episode highlights ongoing scrutiny of the Tinubu administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda ahead of future elections.
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