Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has defended his controversial interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, stating that confronting critics and defending the administration is part of his responsibility.
Bwala said he was fully aware of the demands of his role when he accepted the appointment and remains ready to defend the policies and actions of the Tinubu administration on any platform.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, Bwala said he would never shy away from interviews aimed at challenging the government.
“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,” he said.
According to him, the core responsibility of his office is to promote and defend the policies of the government.
“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 disclosed that the interview programme, Head to Head, had contacted him to discuss issues relating to security, the economy and corruption.
However, he said the organisers did not inform him that the discussion would include questions about his past political comments about President Tinubu.
“Nowhere in our almost six months of communication did they mention that they were going to challenge my past,” he said.
He described parts of the interview as “opposition research-style journalism,” alleging that some of the quotes attributed to organisations during the programme were inaccurate or misleading.
Despite the controversy surrounding the interview, Bwala said he had no regrets over comments he made about President Tinubu while he was previously in the opposition.
He noted that political alliances and positions often change in democratic systems.
“It is all politics. Half of Donald Trump’s cabinet is made up of people who once spoke against him, and quite a number of people in our own cabinet also spoke against President Tinubu in the past,” he said.
Bwala also dismissed criticism from opposition figures and their supporters, insisting that their reactions would not distract him from his responsibilities.
He argued that critics of the government lacked alternative policies or a clear path to electoral victory.
“The majority of the naysayers are members of the opposition and their sympathisers. It does not bother me one bit,” he said.
Bwala thanked Nigerians and others who commended his performance during the interview, describing their support as encouraging.
He also expressed respect for Mehdi Hasan, describing him as one of the most formidable debaters in journalism.
“I still have admiration and respect for Mehdi Hasan as arguably the best debater on the planet,” he said.
Bwala added that he is open to participating in a second interview with Hasan, where he hopes the discussion will focus more on the policies and achievements of the Tinubu administration.
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