Tinubu’s Aide Bwala Clashes With TV Host Over Past Criticism of President

Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala engaged in a heated exchange with Channels Television presenter Seun Okinbaloye on Wednesday, insisting that his previous criticisms of President Bola Tinubu were not lies but had become “baseless” and no longer relevant to national discourse.

The confrontation occurred during an appearance on Politics Today, where Bwala was questioned about comments he made against Tinubu before joining the current administration.

Responding, Bwala expressed frustration over what he described as repeated attempts to revisit his past remarks, accusing the presenter of dwelling on issues that no longer mattered.

He argued that the discussion should instead focus on governance, particularly the economy, education, security and developments surrounding a reported letter linked to United States President Donald Trump praising Tinubu’s handling of security matters.

According to him, the Tinubu administration has recorded measurable progress, especially in improving collaboration among Nigeria’s security agencies.

When asked whether describing his earlier comments as “baseless” meant they were lies, Bwala replied that they were not false but no longer relevant to ongoing national conversations.

He maintained that political opponents were exploiting his previous statements while ignoring more pressing issues affecting Nigerians.

Bwala also accused the television presenter of echoing opposition narratives and questioned why similar scrutiny had not been directed at opposition politicians.

He argued that opposition figures had changed political parties several times without receiving comparable media attention.

“The opposition should continue doing what they are doing, but Nigerians want to hear about issues affecting their daily lives,” he said.

The presidential spokesman insisted that discussions should concentrate on government policies, economic reforms and national security rather than comments made before he joined the administration.

He further defended President Tinubu’s leadership, saying the administration had strengthened cooperation among security agencies in ways not previously seen.

According to Bwala, the government’s efforts have contributed to improvements in tackling insecurity across the country.

The interview became increasingly tense as Okinbaloye continued to press him on his previous criticisms of Tinubu made during the 2022 election period.

Bwala, however, stood by his position, insisting that while his earlier statements reflected his views at the time, they no longer held relevance in light of his current responsibilities and the government’s ongoing work.

The exchange has generated fresh reactions online, with supporters and critics offering differing interpretations of Bwala’s remarks and the interview.