Mehdi Hassan Surprisingly Changed Focus But ‘My Past’ Won’t Be Relevant When Next I Appear On His Programme-Daniel Bwala

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Policy Communication, Mr Daniel Bwala has accused the anchor of Al Jazeera’s Head to Head programme, Mehdi Hassan of unexpectedly changing focus when he appeared on his programme on Thursday.

He disclosed that Mehdi Hassan had contacted him six months ago inviting him to be his guest on the Head to Head programme and noted that he will be asked to defend the government on security, economy, and anti-corruption efforts and not to dig into his past but he however surprisingly shifted attention to his past.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Daniel Bwala, who said this in a statement he issued on Saturday, however noted he will continue to defend the Tinubu administration before Mehdi Hassan and anywhere in the world.

Mr Daniel Bwala added that opposition sympathizers are the ones roasting him on social media which is predictable and will be short-lived.

He also said such a thing will not distract him from his duties as the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Policy Communication.

‘The majority of the naysayers are members of the opposition and their sympathisers. It does not bother me one bit. 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 and mission in conducting and managing a political party’ he said.

Noting that selling ice cream, looking fine, and seeking the praises of men are not part of his ‘job description’, he added that he promotes and defends the President Bola Tinubu administration ‘with ease and joy’.

 ‘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’ he said.

Mr Daniel Bwala also accused Hassan of resorting to ‘opposition research-style journalism’ alleging that some of the quotes read out during the interview are inaccurate while others are ‘outright fake news’.

 ‘I am glad those were things I said when I was in the opposition saddle with such zeal. It is all politics.

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.

They have no path to victory and no alternative policies or programme for the Nigerian people.

And if they say they do, they can as well go to Head to Head and be interrogated on that.

 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 submitted.

Noting that Hassan is ‘arguably the best debater on the planet’, who still earns his admiration and respect, he added that his past will no longer be relevant when next he appears on the programme while the focus will be on Tinubu administration’s policy record and achievements.

‘I am glad that by then 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’ he said.

Mr Daniel Bwala thanked ‘the many Nigerians and non-Nigerians’ who commended him for defending the Tinubu administration during an interview that the anchor ‘would hardly let you answer a question unless it suits his narrative’-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you