Abuja, Nigeria – Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication (State House), has issued a press statement addressing the social media uproar following his recent interview with Mehdi Hassan on “Head to Head.” Bwala, whose statement is dated March 7, 2026, asserted that he was fully aware of the implications of his role and is prepared to defend the administration anywhere, anytime.
Bwala clarified his stance on interviews, stating, “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. It is the least of what is required of me.” He revealed that “Head to Head contacted me requesting an interview, stating that they wanted to challenge our government on security, the economy, and corruption.” He emphasized that “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.”
Addressing the content of the interview, Bwala described Hassan’s approach as “Mehdi’s ‘opposition research-style journalism’,” and claimed that “many were inaccurate and some were outright fake news” regarding quotes read from organizations and groups. He added that he would delve into that “for another day.”
Regarding his past criticisms of President Tinubu, Bwala stated, “I am glad those were things I said when I was in the opposition saddle with such zeal. It is all politics.” He drew a parallel to the US political scene, noting, “Half of Donald Trump’s cabinet is made up of people who once spoke against him, and quite a number of people in our own cabinet also spoke against President Tinubu in the past. Those things do not bother him if you care to know.”
Bwala dismissed his critics, labeling them “members of the opposition and their sympathizers.” He added, “Their temporary excitement over the interview has not lasted and will not last, because it does not take away their obvious problem of lack of vision, mission in conducting and managing a political party; yet they seek to manage Nigeria.” He challenged them, saying, “And if they say they do, they can as well go to head to head and be interrogated on that; as the saying in Hausa goes ‘Ga fili Ga doki’.”
Concluding his statement, Bwala thanked “the many Nigerians and non-Nigerians who sent in their commendations over my brave defence of our government in an interview where the anchor would hardly let you answer a question unless it suited his narrative.” Despite the contentious interview, he maintained admiration and respect for Mehdi Hassan, acknowledging him as “arguably the best debater on the planet.” Bwala expressed anticipation for a “part two of the Head to Head interview,” hopeful that “questions about my past will no longer be news so that we can focus on our administration’s policies, programs and what we have achieved so far.”
