₦airaland Forum

The Daniel Bwala interview with Mehdi Hassan on @AlJazeera ‘s Head to Head program was a disaster of gargantuan proportions for Nigeria as a country, for President Tinubu’s administration, and for Bwala himself. Of these three, the last is the least important, because Bwala’s track record speaks for itself.

The interview made a spectacle of Nigeria, not just because of the reach of the program globally, but also the format in which there was a global audience in the room itself. What will EACH of those people think about Nigeria after such a fact-based shredding of the country’s leadership and its performance? It was a sad commentary on Nigeria’s political culture in which there are no beliefs, no policies, no ideology, just crass opportunism and the battle for political power. Turn-coatism is “it”.

Second, the fact that Bwala, given his record, is sent out to speak for the President of Nigeria on the international stage says much about the standards by which government in Nigeria recruits people for specific roles. In that universe “loyalty”, fleeting though it may be, is all that counts. Competence doesn’t. Mediocrity reigns.

Thirdly, why appoint former attack dogs of the political opposition as spokespersons and Ambassadors for the administration simply because they have “defected”? The baggage such individuals carry (especially when they did not espouse principled opposition that may later change, as sometimes happens in politics, but rather used incendiary and personalized attacks on President Tinubu)renders such persons lacking in credibility in representational roles. Bwala was left trying to eat his words with bare-faced lies!

I think there are people who could be far more credible spokesmen and women for Nigeria’s government, even with all its underperformance in governance. At least, the discussion will focus on the actual track record of the government, not on the government spokesman’s prior condemnations of that track record.

It was a sad day for our country. I’ve received several calls from friends from various countries around the world. All were in shock and felt sorry for our country to be put in such a spot. So many people are waiting and hoping for when Nigeria will “wake up” and take its rightful place under the sun. The citizens of Nigeria are brilliant, hardworking and respected all over the world, breaking barriers and achieving feats in various spheres. The government and incompetent governance of Nigeria by its politicians remains a sorry tale.

Bobloco:
I’ve Received Calls From Friends Around the World; They All Felt Sorry for Our Country—Moghalu

Nigerian politician Kingsley Moghalu expressed deep concern over the recent interview between presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala and journalist Mehdi Hassan on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head program. In a post on X, Moghalu described the interview as a monumental embarrassment for Nigeria, President Tinubu’s administration, and Bwala personally, though he noted the last is the least significant given Bwala’s prior record.

Moghalu argued that the global audience witnessed Nigeria’s leadership being sharply criticized, which reflected poorly on the country’s political culture. He highlighted a perceived lack of coherent ideology or policy in Nigerian politics, replaced instead by opportunism and the pursuit of power, with "turncoatism" often celebrated over principle.

He also criticized the administration’s choice of spokespersons, suggesting that loyalty is prioritized over competence. Appointing former opposition figures who had previously made personalized attacks on the government, Moghalu noted, undermines credibility. In Bwala’s case, this led to him struggling to defend the government’s record without resorting to misleading statements.

Moghalu emphasized that more capable and principled individuals could represent Nigeria effectively on the international stage, enabling discussions that focus on actual government performance rather than the spokesperson’s past positions.

He added that he had received numerous calls from friends around the world, all expressing shock and sympathy for Nigeria. The incident, Moghalu said, underscores the frustration of Nigerians who see their country’s citizens achieving global success despite the persistent failures of their leaders.


According to him, "It was a sad day for our country. I’ve received several calls from friends from various countries around the world. All were in shock and felt sorry for our country to be put in such a spot."

Moghalu called for a more competent, principled, and credible approach to governance and representation, noting that Nigeria’s potential on the world stage remains immense, even if current leadership often falls short


https://news-af.feednews.com/news/detail/c75f4e9925d1128ff0f1067b64d92226?client=news

floss:
Even Tinubu cannot defend his administration, so don’t blame Bwala too much but blame poverty and greed ….

Poverty affects the poor like Bwala, Yarimo, Putindbutt, Helinues, burob , seunmsg and my other fellow robots

Greed affects our A list politicians like Akpabio, Wike, and other elites supporting Apc government

Poverty affects the poor, greed affects the rich and elites

Ofunaofu:
Bwala’s embarrassing interview just confirmed it: Tinubu is Nigeria’s chief demarketer.

No administration has brought this level of shame to the country, an international disgrace on a gargantuan scale.

ezegold4we:
Every tree must produce fruits after it's kind,

Like begats like

Birds of a feather flocks together,

Only wise fools supports tinubu and APC and they are many in this nairaland and Nigeria,

Imagine having Daniel buwala or what, helinues, yarimo, madrid-guy ,reno, wike, Akpabio, orji uzo kalu, Benjamin kalu, okezie Ikpeazu, soludo, and some insensitive, uneducated,and uncultured igbo online billionaires like obi cubana, chief priest, and enviable supporting you

Burob:
Wailing floss.

Focusmind:
This Moghalu always likes hyping - So, "friends from all over the world". had to call you to express their reservation about the performance of BWALA?

Agreed that BWALA messed up, big time, Muoghalu should spare us that lamba!

Friends calling you about an interview, botched by the presidential spokesman

Memphis357:
No matter how intelligent you are. Even if you combine the intelligence of Karl Marx, Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton all together. ......You can't defend this Government in a public platform and not look like a fool.