How President Tinubu Pulled The Rug From Under Bwala’s Feet

By Gideon Njoku

It wasn’t really the fault of Daniel Bwala, the newly appointed Media Aide to President Bola Tinubu.  But, may be, he should have waited just a bit before introducing himself to the State House Press Corp on Monday,  and hours later to Nigerians in an interview with Channel Television’s Seun Okinbaloye.

Bwala, against the grain of expectations, given how much dirty water he poured on President Bola Tinubu when he, Bwala, defected from the APC to the PDP, and became the Spokesperson for the PDP Presidential Campaign Committee before he recently made an about-turn, was a couple of days ago, appointed as a Media Aide to the President.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, while announcing Bwala’s appointment said  his designation was Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

So, on Monday, Bwala’s first day in office, and first time of meeting the State House Press Corp, he confidently announced himself as the replacement for Ajuru Ngelale, the first occupant of the office under Tinubu, but who suddenly stepped aside to, according to him, take care of health-related issue in the family. Later in the day on Channels Television, Bwala, again, announced himself as Ngelale’s replacement.

But hours later, that office and designation were ”nicely” taken away from him. The rug was quietly pulled from under his feet.

A statement signed by Onanuga informed that President Tinubu has re-designed the positions of two of his new appointees. The two affected were Sunday Dare and Bwala.

Dare had earlier been appointed Special Adviser on Public Communication and National Orientation to the President, in the office of the Minister for Information and National Orientation.

However, in Onanuga’s statement, Bwala’s earlier designation – Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to the President – was given to Dare while Bwala was re-designated as Special Adviser, Policy Communication.

Titled “PRESIDENT TINUBU APPROVES RESTRUCTURING OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION S TEAM”, the statement reads:

“President Bola Tinubu has re-designated the positions of two recently appointed officials in the State House media and communications team to enhance efficiency within the government’s communications machinery.

“The restructuring is as follows:

1.Mr Sunday Dare – hitherto Special Adviser on Public Communications and National Orientation is now Special Adviser, Media and Public Communication.

2.Mr. Daniel Bwala – announced last week as Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications, is now  Special Adviser Public Communications.

“These appointments, along with the existing role of Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, underscore that there is no single individual spokesperson for the Presidency.

“Instead all the three Special Advisers will, collectively serve as spokespersons for the Government.

“This approach aims to ensure effective and consistent communication of government policies, decisions and engagements.”

Already, not a few people, unhappy with Bwala’s appointment are happy that his office has been re-designated.

Demola Olarewaju, Atiku Abubakar’s Special Assistant on Digital Media, immediately mocked Bwala that Onanuga has demoted him.

In a post on X, he said ” Egbon Onanuga didn’t wait till morning or later to issue that press release re-designating Bwala’s position. Man dropped it ‘as e day hot’ at 11.28 in the night”.

To some others, it was the outrage  from Tinubu supporters  over Bwala’s appointment which triggered the re-designation.

As one of them put it: “It will be difficult for the Media to believe anything from Bwala in the earlier position given him. The President knows.”