- Safiu Kehinde
The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, has swallowed back his words as he retracted all the allegations he made against President Bola Tinubu.
This included his denial of allegation that the President created a militia.
Bwala debunked all his allegations, which were mostly made before his appointment as the Presidential aide. during an interview with Al Jazeera’s Mehdi Hassan in London Conway Hall on Friday.
When asked about his allegation of Tinubu creating a militia, Bwala refuted the claim, stressing that he never made such statement.
“Tinubu never created a militia. Tinubu is one of the foremost politicians in Nigeria history. Tinubu has helped in strengthening democracy in Nigeria.” He said.
While Mehdi repeatedly quoted Bwala’s words on the allegation, a video from interview showed the an old clip where Bwala made the allegation during a Press Conference on January 22nd, 2023.
“The candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his people created a militia.
“This is the first time in the history of Nigeria we are seeing a political party creating a militant arm. Leading to election.” Bwala had said in the old clip.
The Presidential spokesperson also denied his assassination allegation against Tinubu.
“Does he have a militia that tried to kill you?” Mehdi asked.
“He doesn’t have. I never said he tried to kill me.” Bwala replied.
However, another clip from the Press conference showed moment the Presidential aide made the allegation.
“There is also this threat to life, and I can tell you that because I myself have received threats from him and his camp.” Bwala said in the clip.
The Al Jazeera presenter would further dig into Bwala’s archive of allegations as he unearthed an old interview with Arise TV on the 2nd of March 2023, where the Presidential aide claimed going on hunger strike for three days over the corrupt conduct of the 2023 election.
“You said it was so corrupt-the 2023 election. You said you couldn’t eat food for three days.” Mehdi said.
“I never said that. Where?” Bwala fired back.
However, a clip from the interview captured moment the Presidential spokesperson made the claim.
“…and legitimate complaint were raised all over Nigeria. That part is what threw me off balance. In fact, I became so sick for the past three days I found it very hard eating food.” Bwala had said in the clip.
Further recalled was his allegation of hoarding of raw cash into Tinubu’s residence through two bullion vans in 2019.
Bwala had in another old clip alleged that the President had demanded the money for vote buying.
“Tinubu is not just super rich, it is what he does with his wealth. In 2019, two armoured money trucks, bullion vans, were seen going into his house coming out of his house. Where did that money go?” Mehid asked.
“No. Did you see the money? Or those who reported it did they see money inside the bullion vans?” Bwala responded.
“Was there no money in the bullion vans?” The Al Jazeera host asked again.
“How am I to know?” Bwal quipped.
“You said it was money in the vans at the time. 2023 February.” Mehdi held before a clip from the old interview where Bwala made the allegation while speaking on Naira notes swap controversies surfaced.
“There is only one person in Nigeria who is alleged to have moved money through bullion vans and that person is on their ballot as the presidential candidate.” The presidential aide had said in the clip.
Mehdi further quoted another statement of Bwala where he affirmed that two bullion vans loaded with cash drove into Tinubu’s residence in Lagos.
“On the eve of the presidential election, two cash-laden bullion vans were seen on the premises which was ostentably for vote buying- January 22nd 2023” The host said.
Bwala again denied the claims, stressing that they were never his words.
“What you just said now, I want to put it on record on my own honour. That is not what I said.” He said.
The interview had again brought Bwala to the limelight of public discourse and controversies which had followed him ever since his appointment by the President.