- Safiu Kehinde
Popular Arise TV Presenter, Rufai Oseni, has labelled the Special dviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, as a man of no conviction for joining the All Progressive Congress (APC) administration which he heavily criticized during his time with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Oseni slammed Bwala during a fiery discussion session on Arise TV’s This Morning Show on Tuesday.
The Arise TV anchor had capitalized on the open session with no topic and no hold brawl agreement to latch on Bwala.
Kick-starting the conversation, Rufai referred back to the Bwala first day in office when he declared himself as the President’s spokesman- a declaration which backfired as other aides to the President, Sunday Dare and Bayo Onanuga, corrected the notion.
While asking about his current relationship with the duo and his role at the Presidential Villa, Rufai chipped in the question on Bwala’s decision to work for the APC-led administration which he heavily condemned while in PDP.
However, the Arise TV anchor would give Bwala an open ground to retaliate after mistakenly backdating the 2023 Presidential election to 2013.
“I will ask you two questions. Number one what is your relationship like with them? Do you have the access?
“Is your office in the Villa? Do you still have access to President Tinubu or that little back and forth has pushed you down the pecking order because they now changed you to Special Adviser on Policy Comms which a lot of people said it’s a demotion.
“I also ask you, Mr. Bwala, my friend and brother, what are you doing in this government? The same government that in an Arise interview in 2013, you described as President select rather than President elect. accusing INEC of manipulation and all of that?
“You were saying you were in court to say it was a rigged process. Those were your words. You have casted many doubts on the veracity of this government. You have said a lot of things against this government.
“So the question is what are you doing in the same government that at some point you said if they vote for APC will be like going for a night of thousand laughs.”
Reacting, Bwala took a jab at Rufai, maintaining that he kept close relation with Arise Tv since its establishment in 2013 long before Rufai was employed.
He, however cleared surrounding his relationship with Tinubu and other aides.
I think sometimes around 2013 was when Arise TV launched in London. And at the time, I’m not sure you are with Arise TV. So first premise, mentioning of 2013 is wrong and I’ve appearing on Arise TV right from UK even before Arise TV Nigeria was opened.
“My office is 101 in the State House, Presidential Villa. I’m a Special Adviser to the President.
“I was initially announced as Special Adviser, Media and Public Communication- redesigned to Special Adviser Policy Communication. No demotion, the same.
“I have unfettered access to the President. Last week, we had a meeting. Let us throw that one to a corner.
“You said Sunday Dare, Bayo Onanuga corrected me. That is wrong. It’s a Press Statement that was issued from the Presidency. There was no specific individual that corrected me.
I am still a Presidential spokesman. The statement that was issued said instead of one, there are three Presidential spokesmen.” Bwala said.
On his initial criticism of the APC administration, Bwala admitted being under an opposition party with the sole purpose of opposing every move of the ruling party.
“I was in the opposition. In case you don’t know, the role of the opposition is to oppose the government. In doing so, you de-emphasize the strength of the government and emphasize your strength. Where they have strength, you allow them to argue their matter.
“They raise their case on their strength and not in the weakness of the opposition. When I made a decision on the 10th of January after I visited the President, from that day till date, I speak well of the President, and I support his activities.” he said
When asked if he still stand on all the things he had said against the administration, Bwala said they are irrelevant- a response which led to Rufai calling him a man of no conviction.
Reacting, Rufai said; “So you are not a man of conviction because if you said those things out of your conviction then. So, your conviction changed?”
In his defense, Bwala alleged that Arise TV is also without conviction.
He backed up his claim with the award given to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, by This Day despite being heavily criticised on Arise TV.