“I Will Face Any Interviewer Anywhere to Defend Tinubu” — Daniel Bwala Fires Back after Explosive Mehdi

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has responded to the widespread reactions that followed his recent interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, stating that defending the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a responsibility he undertakes with “ease and joy.”

In a statement issued on Saturday, Bwala acknowledged the intense debate on social media over the interview but insisted that criticism would not deter him from publicly promoting and defending the policies of the current administration.

“In the last 24 hours, social media has exploded over my interview with Mehdi Hassan, albeit with varied opinions. Let me set the record straight,” he said.

The presidential spokesman said he understood the demands of his role from the moment he accepted the appointment.

“When I signed on to the privileged job granted to me by Mr. President, I was well aware of its implications. Selling ice cream, looking fine, and seeking the praises of men were never part of it,” Bwala stated.

He emphasised that confronting critics and engaging tough questions about government policies is a core responsibility of his office.

“But the task of promoting and defending the President and his administration is what I do with ease and joy. I am prepared to appear before any interviewer, anywhere in the world, any day and at any time, to defend this government and its policies,” he added.

Bwala also dismissed suggestions that he should avoid certain media platforms, stressing that he would never shy away from interviews related to government performance.

“I have never, and will never, subscribe to ducking or dodging interviews on matters that concern promoting and defending the administration I was appointed to serve. It is the least of what is required of me,” he said.

The presidential aide explained that producers of the Head to Head programme had initially approached him to discuss issues concerning security, the economy, and corruption.

According to him, the programme’s team did not indicate beforehand that questions about his previous political statements would form part of the interview.

“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. But that’s okay, ethically, that is on them, not on me,” he said.

Bwala further criticised what he described as “opposition research-style journalism” during the interview, alleging that some quotes attributed to organisations and groups were inaccurate.

“I refused to swallow the pill of Mehdi’s ‘opposition research-style journalism,’ and even today, if you carefully compare what he read as quotes from organisations and groups, you will see that many were inaccurate and some were outright fake news,” he said.

Responding to questions about his past criticism of President Tinubu before joining the administration, Bwala said such remarks were made during his time in opposition politics.

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