Nigerians have berated Daniel Bwala, Special Assistant to the president, over his interview with Mehdi Hassan on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head program.
Bwala, who obviously struggled to respond to questions posed to him by Hassan, has attracted condemnation from Nigerians.
The interview, which was broadcasted on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head on Thursday, sparked an immediate outcry on social media, particularly on X, where video went viral, with critics calling Bwala’s appearance an embarrassment.
Hassan frequently confronted Bwala with his own past words, in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a drug baron, corrupt, and unable to govern—sentiments made prior to his 2023 defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
When Bwala denied uttering some of the statements, Hassan presented video footage, causing outrage online.
Hassan also challenged him on Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, citing reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, with critics claiming Bwala was unable to rebut the figures with his own evidence.
Bwala also stated there is no evidence that Abubakar Bagudu, minister of budget and economic planning, misappropriated public funds.
The interview examined Tinubu’s administration on issues including corruption, insecurity, and political appointments.
During the discussion, Hasan challenged the government’s anti-corruption stance by citing Bagudu’s appointment to the cabinet.
He referenced allegations by the United States Department of Justice that Bagudu played a role in helping to move billions of dollars linked to the late military ruler Sani Abacha.
In 2020, the US Justice Department alleged that Bagudu was part of a network controlled by Abacha that “embezzled, misappropriated, and extorted billions from the government of Nigeria” during the 1990s.
The controversy dates back to 1999 when the Nigerian government hired Swiss lawyer Enrico Monfrini to help recover assets linked to Abacha, his family, and associates in multiple countries, including Switzerland, France, Jersey, and the United Kingdom.
At the time, assets connected to Bagudu who had links to the Abacha family were frozen alongside funds traced to the former ruler.
However, Bwala insisted that Bagudu’s current role in government remains untainted under Nigerian law.
According to him, foreign legal actions do not amount to proof of wrongdoing within Nigeria’s judicial system.
“There is no evidence that Bagudu has misappropriated funds,” Bwala said.
“The decision of the court in the United States does not bind the Supreme Court of Nigeria. There is no evidence that that minister has misappropriated funds in the government of Nigeria.”
In reaction to the interview, Nigerians criticized the presidential aide, berating his inability to respond to questions he was asked.
Abubakar Ibrahim, in a statement on social media, described Bwala’s interview as a mockery to him and his principal.
”Daniel Bwala’s outing on @mehdirhasan’s Head to Head on @AJEnglish is one of the worst outings by a Nigerian presidential spokesman ever,” he said.
“To claim ignorance over the basic things, like the NAF bombings of civilians, is not only disingenuous but also makes mockery of the needless deaths of Nigerians.
“How do you even miss the opportunity to clarify that friendly fires happen and you need to train and equip your military better with the support of partner states?
“The only worse outing by a public official I can think of is Pam Bondi’s appearance before Congress. And that is saying something. National embarrassment,” he added.
For Otta Chimezie, he said, “The problem is not that Daniel Bwala didn’t prepare. He looked prepared. But when the conversation is about facts, it’s difficult to play politics with words around it.
“Facts are facts and Mehdi is a man of facts. He makes heavy facts sound light. Unlike that rude Nigerian journalist that you guys are busy hyping. Because the goal of an interview is to bring out information. Not bringing out anger.
“The easiest way out Bwala will choose of this interview is having a rude journalist that they both will get angry at and having him walk out but with Mehdi, no. We will laugh. But you will sweat. An interesting conversation about “Context.”
Oni Victor mentioned that the interview espoused how ignorant the presidential aide is.
He said, “Contrary to erroneous assumptions, some pundits believe that Daniel Bwala is brilliant and articulate, but it is irreversible in this case.”
“Mehdi Hassan was brutal, and my brother Daniel Bwala was intellectually handicapped and paralyzed.
”I just hope he will be able to eat any food in the next 48 hours after this outing.”
Abubakar Chindo mentioned that “the problem is not that Daniel Bwala didn’t prepare. He prepared. But when the conversation is about facts, it’s difficult to play politics with words around it.
“Honestly, stepping into that kind of conversation is not easy. It takes focus, calm, and confidence to handle tough questions while keeping your point clear, and Mr. Bwala did that really well.
“To me this interview is more like intimidation, but Mr. Bwala showed confidence and professionalism kudos to Mr.. Kudos Bwala.”
Francis Onwusi noted that the truth, they say, is scared. No matter what you do or say, truth will always prevail.
“Daniel Bwala found himself in a very difficult situation, and there is no way around it. Admitting those statements wouldn’t have salvaged anything for him because he has erred already.”
Abdullahi Mahmud mentioned that “facts backed with evidence don’t lie.”
“There is no way you can defend the indefensible when your past utterances are used against you. When you join APC, you automatically forget all your senses.
”This is what you get when you decide to go for the highest bidder and become a man without character.
“Bwala, the founder of the University of Contextualization. I always say this: no matter how intelligent you are, defending APC will make you look stupid and embarrassing.
For another social media user, Rufai, he said, “It was a well-planned interview, yet Bwala came across as a complete disgrace. This wasn’t an impromptu appearance, but he still had nothing meaningful to say. How will his paymasters view him after this?”
Mas’ud Haruna: “Bwala was at the Al Jazeera studio just to embarrass himself and the country he’s representing. Mehdi was forcing Bwala to simply have divided views on himself. He sells his conscience to the rich president while simultaneously wanting the picture of that conscience intact, which is not possible. I just pity him.”
Muhammad Kankia, in his criticism, stated, “I think the presidency made a big mistake appointing a spokesman with documented evidence of criticizing the government.”
“His criticism beclouded the whole essence of the interview. His documented attacks were used against him. It appears that he was disgraced and off course in the country.
“A lot of people worked during the campaign who could do better; they were abandoned. I think Daniel may never appear in any international media anytime soon.
“Mehdi Hasan is a tenacious journalist who armed himself with documented facts before the interview. Seun, Rufai Oseni should learn to do thorough research like him.”
Sharing similar sentiments, Bennard Osifo said, “Mehdi Hasan, the Al Jazeera anchor man, was super, and he was presenting facts and figures to Daniel Bwala so that there would not be an escape route for Bwala.
“Mehdi Hasan was very good at his job. I must confess.
“On the other hand, Daniel Bwala was busy displaying his ignorance, stupidity, and foolishness on the Internet space. What a shame, all because of stomach infrastructure and anywhere Belle face. This is a show of shame of the highest order.”
