..Fires back at critics and accuses Head to Head of unethical ‘ambush’ tactics
By Eshioromeh Sebastian in Abuja
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication, D.H. Bwala, has broken his silence following a firestorm of criticism on social media regarding his recent interview on Head to Head with popular international journalist, Mehdi Hassan.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, Bwala addressed the backlash head-on, defending his performance and accusing the programme of employing unethical “opposition research-style journalism.”
Bwala revealed that the statement became necessary because social media had “exploded” with varied opinions over the interview in the last 24 hours.
He sought to “set the record straight” regarding both his conduct during the interview and the nature of his pre-interview communications with the producers.
According to Bwala, Head to Head initially approached him with the stated intent of challenging the government on security, the economy, and corruption.
He claimed that throughout nearly six months of communication, the production team never disclosed their intention to scrutinize his personal past or previous statements about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“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 were supposed to inform me so I could prepare my response. But that’s okay, ethically, that is on them, not on me”, Bwala stated.
The presidential aide, known for his past role in the opposition, did not shy away from his history. He acknowledged that his previous critical comments about President Tinubu were made when he was “in the opposition saddle with such zeal,” dismissing it as routine politics.
He drew a parallel to the United States, noting that “half of Donald Trump’s cabinet is made up of people who once spoke against him,” implying that political realignments are common and that the President remains unfased by his past stance.
Despite the intense grilling, Bwala described the interview as part of his core job description. He emphasised that seeking easy assignments or public praise was never part of his role.
He declared: “I have never, and will never, subscribe to ducking or dodging interviews on matters that concern promoting and defending the administration I was appointed to serve. Selling ice cream, looking fine, and seeking the praises of men were never part of it.”
The Special Adviser also took aim at his detractors, labeling the majority as members of the opposition and their sympathisers.
He accused them of lacking a political vision and challenged them to submit themselves to the same rigorous interrogation on Head to Head regarding their own policies. Using a Hausa proverb, he dared them: “Ga fili Ga doki” (Here is the field, here is the horse).
While standing by his performance, Bwala reserved praise for his interviewer, calling Mehdi Hassan “arguably the best debater on the planet.” He concluded by expressing his readiness for a second part of the interview, hoping that by then, the focus would shift away from his past and fully onto the administration’s policies and achievements.
“Stay tuned,” the statement ended.
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