Mr. Daniel Bwala, a former spokesperson for the PDP Presidential Campaign Council and once a staunch critic of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been appointed as the President’s Special Adviser on Public Communications. This surprising turn of events comes just 11 months after Bwala publicly declared that President Tinubu would be unable to deliver on his promises even if given an additional 30 years in office.
Bwala, who had been a key loyalist of former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, now transitions into a supportive role within Tinubu’s administration, signaling a significant political shift.
The announcement of his appointment was made by Presidential media aide Bayo Onanuga, who listed Bwala as one of five newly appointed individuals to key positions. The full list includes Olawale Olopade, named as Director-General of the National Sports Commission; Dr. Abisoye Fagade, appointed as Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism; Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, now Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement; and Daniel Bwala, taking on the role of Special Adviser for Media and Public Communications (State House).
This appointment has sparked widespread reactions due to Bwala’s previously strong stance against Tinubu’s leadership. Notably, during a Channels Television interview following the presentation of the 2024 budget proposals by the President, Bwala criticized Tinubu's administration, expressing doubt over its ability to fulfill campaign promises within the allotted four-year term.
During the interview, Bwala remarked:
“When people talk about being patient and waiting, you have to look at the time frame the public officer is expected to execute the work,” Bwala said, emphasizing his skepticism. “The President has just been voted into a term of four years. He is eight months into the term, which constitutes 31.8 percent of the total time that he has. He has less than 70 percent time in government, when is that going to happen?
“When President Buhari took over in 2015, it was the same language, and we patiently followed. He finished the first term and finished the second term. When there is a fundamental problem with policy, time is irrelevant; 30 years it will not work. Most of the economists I’ve listened to have faulted the President’s budget with which he was supposed to deliver the agenda flat-out.”
Bwala’s appointment as part of the administration has therefore drawn mixed reactions, with many observers questioning how this shift aligns with his previously critical views of Tinubu’s leadership approach and policies.