Presidential media aide, Daniel Bwala, has reacted to the backlash that trailed his appearance on Head to Head on Al Jazeera.
The interview, which aired on Thursday and was hosted by Mehdi Hasan, generated widespread reactions online after clips from the programme circulated on social media, with critics questioning Bwala’s performance.
During the interview, Hasan confronted Bwala with several of his past remarks about President Bola Tinubu, including comments he made before the 2023 elections while he was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). At the time, Bwala had strongly criticised Tinubu’s leadership and suitability for office.
When Bwala denied making some of the remarks, the host played video clips of his earlier statements, which quickly gained attention online and fuelled further debate.
Hasan also pressed the presidential aide on Nigeria’s security challenges, referencing reports from organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Bwala dismissed the criticism, describing it as the reaction of opposition supporters and their sympathisers.
He said defending the administration of President Tinubu was part of his responsibility and insisted he had no regrets appearing on the programme.
According to him, discussions with the show’s producers began nearly six months earlier and were centred on issues such as security, the economy and corruption, rather than his past political statements.
Bwala also accused the host of relying on what he described as “opposition-style research journalism”, claiming some of the quotes attributed to him during the interview were inaccurate or misleading, a matter he said he would address later.
Speaking on his earlier criticisms of Tinubu, Bwala said such statements were made while he was in the opposition and reflected the realities of partisan politics. He later joined the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He added that it is not unusual for politicians to work together despite past disagreements, citing examples from other governments, including that of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Bwala also said he remains open to future interviews and is ready to defend the administration’s policies and achievements anywhere in the world.
Despite the tense exchange, he described Hasan as “arguably one of the best debaters” and said he still holds respect for the journalist.
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