RismadarVoice Reporters, July 23, 2026
Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala has defended his past criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying they should no longer be the focus of public discourse because they are now “baseless” in light of current realities, while insisting they were never false.
Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication, made the remarks on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he engaged in a debate with anchor Seun Okinbaloye over comments he made about Tinubu before joining the administration.
The presidential aide questioned why the presenter kept revisiting his earlier remarks rather than focusing on issues affecting Nigerians.
“The first person that started asking me this question was you, and you have done that more than five times. Are you not tired? They are completely inconsequential to what is happening,” Bwala said.
He argued that the discussion should have centred on governance, including the economy, education, and security, as well as a recent letter purportedly sent by United States President Donald Trump commending President Tinubu’s security efforts.
“We have taken almost 10 minutes on this. Nigerian people want to hear tonight what is happening to their lives. They want to know what is happening with their economy, with their education, and most importantly, with security,” he said.
Bwala maintained that the Tinubu administration has recorded significant achievements, particularly in strengthening collaboration among Nigeria’s security agencies.
“We have made substantial progress. It is the first time in Nigeria’s history that the leadership of President Bola Tinubu has brought about very strong collaboration,” he stated.
When asked whether describing his previous comments as “baseless” implied that they were lies, Bwala distinguished the two.
“They are not lies. They are baseless. Not important for conversation,” he said.
The presidential spokesman also accused the programme host of amplifying opposition narratives while paying less attention to similar political developments involving opposition figures.
“I’m trying my best not to be aggressive about it, but you’re riding on the opposition’s back horse,” he said.
He cited Labour Party leader Peter Obi as an example, noting that the former Anambra State governor had changed political parties several times.
“Peter Obi has since changed parties four times. How many times have you asked their people?” Bwala queried.
He urged the public to pay attention to the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration rather than debates over his past political comments, insisting that issues directly affecting Nigerians should remain the priority.
