Bwala hits back: Focus on security issues, not my personal history

On Saturday, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, launched a scathing response to his critics, including a challenge to Mehdi Hasan for a rematch following their contentious Head to Head interview on Al Jazeera that sparked widespread outrage on social media.

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Bwala issued a press statement that dismissed the backlash as a fleeting reaction from opposition supporters who lack a clear vision or plan for Nigeria, stating that seeking praise and accolades was not part of his job description.

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He vowed to defend the Tinubu administration at all times, emphasizing that his role is not about seeking admiration, but about promoting the government's agenda, as he put it, "anywhere in the world, any day, any time".

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Bwala accused Mehdi Hasan's team of employing ambush journalism tactics, revealing that their discussions over the past six months focused solely on grilling the government on issues such as security, economy, and corruption, without mentioning his past criticisms of Tinubu.

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He argued that Hasan's team should have informed him about the topics they would be discussing, and labelled the quotes used by Hasan as "inaccurate" and "fake news", raising ethical concerns about the interview.

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Bwala downplayed his past criticisms of Tinubu, describing them as "all politics", and cited examples of politicians who have worked with former opponents, including Trump's cabinet and Tinubu's own team.

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He mocked opposition sympathizers for being unable to handle critiques from local TV anchors, yet being outraged by his robust defense of the government, and challenged them to defend their policies on a platform like Head to Head.

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Using a Hausa proverb, "Ga fili ga doki", which translates to "show the horse's teeth", Bwala threw down the gauntlet, daring them to come forward and defend their policies.

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Bwala praised Mehdi Hasan as "the best debater on the planet" and thanked his supporters worldwide, while also calling for a second interview, stating that by then, his past comments would no longer be relevant, and the focus could shift to the government's achievements.