Bwala Faults Al Jazeera for ‘Ambushing’ Him Over Past Comments

Bwala Faults Al Jazeera for ‘Ambushing’ Him Over Past Comments

The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has criticised the handling of his recent television interview with Mehdi Hasan, saying it was unethical for the programme not to inform him beforehand that questions would centre on his past remarks about the president.

Bwala made the remark while responding to reactions that followed his appearance on the programme Head to Head, aired by Al Jazeera and recorded at Conway Hall in London.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the presidential aide said he had accepted the invitation to the interview based on the understanding that discussions would focus on the policies and performance of the current administration.

According to him, the programme’s producers had indicated that the interview would revolve around issues such as security, the economy and corruption, but did not mention that his past comments about President Tinubu would form a major part of the discussion.

“Nowhere in our almost six months of communication did they mention that they were going to challenge my past. If that had been their plan, ethically and professionally they were supposed to inform me so I could prepare my response,” he said.

Bwala added that the decision to raise those issues during the interview came as a surprise, although he maintained that he was prepared to defend the government anywhere and at any time.

He also accused the interviewer of adopting what he described as opposition-style tactics, alleging that some of the claims cited during the programme were inaccurate.

“I refused to swallow the pill of opposition research-style journalism,” Bwala said, adding that some of the quotations attributed to organisations and groups during the interview were either incorrect or misleading.

The presidential aide said he fully understood the demands of his role when he accepted the appointment to serve in the current administration.

According to him, defending the policies and programmes of the government is a responsibility he carries out willingly.

“Selling ice cream, looking fine and seeking the praises of men were never part of the job,” he said. “The task of promoting and defending the president and his administration is what I do with ease and joy.”

Bwala said he remains open to further interviews and would not shy away from appearing on international platforms to explain the government’s policies.

He also addressed criticism over previous comments he made about Tinubu before joining the administration, explaining that those statements were made while he belonged to the political opposition.

“As for what I said about President Tinubu in the past, those were things I said when I was in the opposition with such zeal. It is all politics,” he said.

He noted that political realignments are common in many democracies, pointing out that several public officials have previously criticised leaders they later served.

Bwala cited the example of the administration of Donald Trump in the United States, where some cabinet members had earlier spoken against the former president before joining his government.

According to him, such past disagreements did not prevent them from working together.

The presidential aide also dismissed criticism of his interview performance, suggesting that many of those attacking him are affiliated with opposition political groups.

He argued that the reactions reflect what he described as temporary excitement rather than substantive political engagement.

“They have their own challenges of vision and direction, yet they seek to manage Nigeria,” he said.

Bwala further challenged opposition figures to subject themselves to similar scrutiny on international platforms if they believe they have viable alternatives to the policies of the current administration.

Despite his criticism of the interview process, Bwala expressed respect for Hasan, whom he described as a skilled debater.

He said he would welcome another opportunity to appear on the programme, adding that he hopes future discussions would focus more on government policies and programmes rather than his personal political history.

The presidential aide also thanked Nigerians and foreign observers who commended what he described as his defence of the administration during the interview.