Since we're talking about political consistency, or the lack thereof, let's look critically at the recent circus with Daniel Bwala on Al Jazeera's 'Head to Head'. Your boy, jagwa, has been watching, and what I saw left me with more questions than answers.
Bwala, President Tinubu's Special Adviser on Policy Communication, was put on the hot seat by Mehdi Hasan, and it was a proper grilling. The man, who was once a vocal spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, vehemently denied making past critical statements about President Tinubu. We're talking about accusations of Tinubu creating a militia to influence elections and suspicious cash movements, all clearly documented in the public domain. Yet, Bwala's response was a repeated, almost robotic, 'I never said that'.
This isn't just about Bwala. This is about a pattern we see far too often in our political landscape. The moment an opposition figure crosses over to the ruling party, their memory suddenly develops amnesia regarding their past, often scathing, criticisms. Bwala himself tried to explain it away, saying his past statements were merely 'political rhetoric' from his time in opposition, and therefore 'no longer relevant'. Really? So, accusations of corruption and electoral malpractice are just 'rhetoric' when you're opposing, but become serious matters when you're defending the same person?
I recall him being quite unsparing of critics of the President and the APC since his appointment, describing el-Rufai's defection as 'insignificant' and even predicting Peter Obi's move to APC. This dramatic 180-degree shift is not just alarming, it's insulting to the intelligence of Nigerians who followed these political debates. It makes you wonder, what exactly do these politicians stand for beyond personal gain and appointments?
And let's not forget his 'Lagos is a no man's land' comment, which he later had to clarify, insisting it was taken out of context and meant to highlight Lagos's cosmopolitan nature and infrastructure needs. While the clarification came, the initial statement, made in defense of federal project allocations, certainly stirred the pot.
This forum has the receipts. We have the screenshots. We have the links. To deny words spoken publicly, captured on video and in print, raises serious questions about integrity and accountability in public service. Are we to believe that politicians can simply erase their past whenever it's convenient?
It's time we demand more from those who seek to lead us and represent us. Tagging relevant handles like @AprokoNation, @NigeriaGov. What are your thoughts on this level of political shapeshifting?