By Ghazali Ibrahim
Daniel Bwala, a presidential spokesperson, has retracted his previous statement when he was in opposition in 2023, saying his remarks does not reflect his current status.
He defended the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu during an appearance on the ‘Head to Head’ aired by Al Jazeera.
During the interview hosted by journalist Mehdi Hasan, Bwala pushed back against several criticisms of the Tinubu government, including allegations relating to corruption, security and the president’s political past.
The programme, themed around whether the administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda represents progress or failure, saw the presidential aide confronted with clips and statements he made while he was previously aligned with the opposition.
During the exchange, Bwala denied previously accusing Tinubu of creating a militia to influence the 2023 presidential election, insisting he never made such remarks.
He also defended the administration’s record and rejected claims that corruption allegations against some government officials had been proven in Nigerian courts, arguing that foreign court findings do not automatically apply under Nigerian law.
Bwala further explained that some of his earlier criticisms of Tinubu were made when he was part of the political opposition, noting that “the job of opposition is to oppose.”
The interview has since generated significant reactions online, with supporters saying the presidential aide attempted to clarify misconceptions about the government, while critics argued that the exchange exposed contradictions between his previous statements and his current defence of the administration.
The episode has quickly become a trending political discussion in Nigeria, highlighting the ongoing debate over the policies and performance of the Tinubu administration since it assumed office in May 2023.
