Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, has said he is looking forward to the second part of his interview with Al-Jazeera’s Head to Head programme, hosted by Mehdi Hassan.
Bwala’s comments come after a backlash that followed the interview, held at Conway Hall in London, with many Nigerians on X and Facebook mocking him for faltering and prevaricating while responding to some questions.
In a statement on Saturday, the presidential aide reaffirmed his commitment to defending and promoting the Tinubu administration, describing it as a responsibility he carries out with ease.
He said he remains ready to appear before any interviewer anywhere in the world to defend the government.
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While accusing Hassan of employing opposition-style tactics during the interview, Bwala said he welcomes a second episode where the focus will be on the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration.
“Nowhere in our almost six months of communication did they mention that they were going to challenge my past. If that had been their plan, ethically and professionally, they should have informed me so I could prepare my response. But that is on them, not on me,” he said.
Bwala added, “I still have admiration and respect for Mehdi Hassan as arguably the best debater on the planet. I look forward to part two of the Head to Head interview, and I am glad that by then questions about my past will no longer be news, so we can focus on our administration’s policies, programmes and achievements.”
