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The Bwala Interview and the Limits of Political Damage Control

March 9, 2026
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In a recent interview on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head programme, Daniel Bwala, media adviser to Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, found himself defending his boss against criticisms he once publicly made.

At several points, he denied proven evidence that was glaring and well documented, a situation in which a child might wonder why his father is swallowing his own vomit.

 

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The controversy was not simply about whether Bwala’s past allegations were accurate, but about how he contradicted his own tongue. Beyond the spectacle, the episode highlights how governments often move swiftly to absorb those who criticise their failures.

 

It also exposes the extent to which Nigeria’s political class appears to abhor criticism, even though criticism remains a normal and necessary societal tool for drawing government attention to the need to do the right thing. Or do people criticise governments merely as a pathway to becoming part of the very administrations they once condemned?

 

Bwala is not an obscure voice in Nigeria’s political space. He is a lawyer and political commentator who has participated actively in national debates. The legal profession carries a moral expectation of honesty and fidelity to facts. Lawyers are trained to test arguments against evidence and to uphold truth even when defending difficult positions.

 

Should Nigerians trust lawyers more after such public displays? That background should ordinarily prepare a public communicator to confront questions with clarity and respect for facts.

 

He even came into wider political prominence during the 2023 presidential election when he served as spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. In that role, he frequently criticised the candidacy and record of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

 

Those criticisms were widely aired on television and other public platforms and remain part of the country’s political record.

Today, Bwala serves as a media adviser and spokesman for the same president he once criticised. Political realignments are not unusual in Nigeria. What matters is how such a transition is explained and defended before the public. With his legal training and public experience, he had the background to address the contradictions in a forthright and credible manner.

 

Another question arises from his position as a public servant speaking for the government. A farmer who has lost family members to violent attacks may struggle to understand why a government representative would dismiss or minimise concerns about armed militias. For many citizens directly affected by insecurity, such responses deepen the perception that government often appears distant from the lived realities of the people it is meant to serve.

 

 

READ ALSO : Bwala Defends Mehdi Hasan Interview, Says He Is Ready to Face Any Interrogation for Tinubu Government

 

Moghalu Says Bwala’s Al Jazeera Interview Damaging to Nigeria

When Yesterday’s Criticism Becomes Today’s Defence

This pattern is not limited to one individual. Nigeria’s political landscape offers several instances where earlier statements return to shape later political positions.

A recent example emerged in the prosecution of activist Omoyele Sowore by the State Security Service over comments in which he described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “as a criminal.”

 

During proceedings before Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, prosecutors relied on video evidence of similar allegations previously made by political commentator Reno Omokri, calling the president “a drug lord.”

 

The recordings were admitted in court as part of the evidence in the case. Mr Reno Omokri, however, later stated that he had withdrawn those remarks after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inauguration in 2023. But will any normal person be shown both videos side by side to see that he had withdrawn the statement?

 

The problem is not merely a change of position, politics allows room for evolving opinions. What undermines public trust is the selective memory created by widely circulated statements. In such circumstances, the contradiction becomes far more visible than the defence itself.

 

It is also important to question why the government often absorbs its critics without considering the substance of their criticism. At least, if a criticism is not proven, society can forgive it. But when the government quickly absorbs the criticism, it suggests guilt of the alleged offences, perhaps an attempt to shut the person up. Clear and concise, they say: fear no accusations.

 

Just like many Nigerians, Prof Kingsley Moghalu described the recent “Bwala’s interview with  AlJazeera’s Head to Head programme as “a disaster of gargantuan proportions for Nigeria as a country, for President Tinubu’s administration, and for Bwala himself. Of these three, the last is the least important, because Bwala’s track record speaks for itself.”

 

He added that the interview made a spectacle of Nigeria, not just because of the global reach of the programme, but also because of the format, in which there was a global audience in the room itself.

 

He asked: “What will EACH of those people think about Nigeria after such a fact-based shredding of the country’s leadership and its performance?” It was a sad commentary on Nigeria’s political culture, in which there are no beliefs, no policies, no ideology, just crass opportunism and the battle for political power. Turn-coatism is “it.”

 

He added that, given Bwala’s record, sending him to speak for the President of Nigeria on the international stage says much about the standards by which the government in Nigeria recruits people for specific roles. In that universe, “loyalty,” fleeting though it may be, is all that counts. Competence does not. Mediocrity reigns.

 

He went on to question why the government appoints former “attack dogs” of the political opposition as spokespersons and ambassadors simply because they have “defected.”

 

The baggage such individuals carry, especially when they did not espouse principled opposition that might later change, but instead used incendiary and personalised attacks on President Tinubu, renders them lacking in credibility in representational roles. Bwala was left trying to eat his words with bare-faced lies.

It was indeed “a sad day for our country.

 

“ So many people are waiting and hoping for when Nigeria will ‘wake up’ and take its rightful place under the sun. The citizens of Nigeria are brilliant, hardworking and respected all over the world, breaking barriers and achieving feats in various spheres. The government and the incompetent governance of Nigeria by its politicians remains a sorry tale.”

 

Yet many Nigerians might see this episode as a bad omen, a reflection of the fragility of government credibility, but the administration may view it as a calculated strategy to consolidate support and manage criticism.

 

Governments sometimes believe that appointing former critics is a clever political strategy. The assumption is that bringing critics into the fold will silence opposition voices or convert them into defenders of official policy.

 

In theory, such appointments may appear to broaden the administration’s support base. In practice, however, the strategy often exposes more weaknesses than it conceals.

 

When former critics attempt to defend positions they once condemned, the public record quickly resurfaces. Instead of neutralising criticism, the appointment usually intensifies scrutiny.

 

The focus shifts from the government’s policies to the credibility of the individual defending them. What is presented as political strategy can therefore backfire. Rather than shielding the government from criticism will continue to highlight unresolved questions about governance, performance, and accountability.

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Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.

MARCEL MBAMALU

Dr. Marcel Mbamalu is a distinguished communication scholar, journalist, and entrepreneur with three decades of experience in the media industry. He holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and serves as the publisher of Prime Business Africa, a renowned multimedia news platform catering to Nigeria and Africa's socio-economic needs.

Dr. Mbamalu's journalism career spans over two decades, during which he honed his skills at The Guardian Newspaper, rising to the position of senior editor. Notably, between 2018 and 2023, he collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Northeast Nigeria, training senior journalists on conflict reporting and health journalism.

Dr. Mbamalu's expertise has earned him international recognition. He was the sole African representative at the 2023 Jefferson Fellowship program, participating in a study tour of the United States and Asia (Japan and Hong Kong) on inclusion, income gaps, and migration issues.
In 2020, he was part of a global media team that covered the United States presidential election.

Dr. Mbamalu has attended prestigious media trainings, including the Bloomberg Financial Journalism Training and the Reuters/AfDB Training on "Effective Coverage of Infrastructural Development in Africa."

As a columnist for The Punch Newspaper, with insightful articles published in other prominent Nigerian dailies, including ThisDay, Leadership, The Sun, and The Guardian, Dr. Mbamalu regularly provides in-depth analysis on socio-political and economic issues.

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