Bwala Repeatedly Denies Past Anti-Tinubu Remarks During Al Jazeera Grilling: “I Never Said That”

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on policy communication, repeatedly denied previously making critical comments about the president during an appearance on Al Jazeera’s “Head to Head” programme. Host Mehdi Hasan confronted Bwala with old quotes, clips, and statements from his time as an opposition figure aligned with Atiku Abubakar’s campaign.

When Hasan referenced Bwala’s January 2023 claim that Tinubu “created a militia to sway the election corruptly,” Bwala responded, “Tinubu didn’t create a militia, and I never said that.” He similarly denied past remarks about suspicious cash movements into Tinubu’s residence and allegations that Tinubu or his camp had threatened him.

Bwala explained his shift by noting he was in opposition at the time, where “the job of opposition is to oppose,” and argued those statements were political rhetoric no longer relevant to his current role defending the president.

Key Points

Bwala’s repeated “I never said that” denials clash with widely circulated clips of his past statements.
The Al Jazeera grilling publicly exposed the contradictions in his political evolution.
His explanation, that opposition rhetoric differs from governing responsibility, attempts to justify the pivot.
The episode highlights the tension between past political battles and present governmental roles.
Social media reactions have amplified the clips, fueling public skepticism.

Daniel Bwala’s Al Jazeera appearance has backfired spectacularly, as his repeated denials of past anti-Tinubu remarks, caught on tape, have sparked a fresh wave of online mockery and questions about political authenticity.

Sources: Al Jazeera Interview