Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has claimed he rejected a private apology from Al Jazeera over his controversial interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, insisting the broadcaster should have apologised publicly.
Speaking on The Morayo Show, Bwala said the matter is now before a court in England, where his legal team is pursuing what they describe as a defamation case.
According to Bwala, the broadcaster admitted it should have informed him in advance that the interview would focus heavily on his past criticisms of President Bola Tinubu and his subsequent support for the president.
“They apologised to me privately. I said they should put it on social media. They said they would not because it would affect their credibility,” he said.
Background to the interview
Bwala appeared on Head to Head, hosted by Mehdi Hasan, in March. During the interview, Hasan confronted him with previous statements and video clips from his time as spokesperson for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign.
The exchange gained widespread attention after clips circulated on social media, with Bwala repeatedly denying making several of the remarks presented during the interview.
Claims of unfair editing
Bwala also alleged that the programme was edited in a way that removed important context.
He claimed he had acknowledged making critical remarks about Tinubu before the interview began but had informed Hasan that questions about those comments fell outside the agreed scope of the discussion.
According to Bwala, those introductory remarks were omitted from the final broadcast, creating the impression that he was simply denying his previous statements.
He added that his lawyers in England believe the broadcast amounts to defamation and that the case is currently before the court.
Comments on ‘japa’
During the interview, Bwala also addressed the growing trend of Nigerians relocating abroad, popularly known as japa.
He argued that some Nigerians who migrated to the United Kingdom are not necessarily better off financially despite earning higher salaries, citing the country’s high cost of living.
According to Bwala, many highly educated Nigerians work in care homes and spend most of their income on rent, utilities and other living expenses, leaving little disposable income.
While acknowledging that the UK offers better infrastructure and healthcare, he maintained that some Nigerians living at home benefit from stronger family support and lower living costs.
The claims were made during his appearance on The Morayo Show. At the time of his comments, no judgment had been delivered in the legal proceedings he said were ongoing.
