Trending 
Media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has strongly criticised an interview featuring President Bola Tinubu’s media aide, Daniel Bwala, on Al Jazeera’s programme Head to Head, describing Bwala’s performance as a disgrace to Nigeria.
The interview, which aired on Thursday, March 5, 2026, generated widespread reactions on social media, particularly on X, where clips from the programme circulated, stirring criticism of Bwala’s performance.
Reacting to the interview on Newscentral’s breakfast program on Monday, Ibe said Bwala portrayed Nigeria negatively before a global audience.
“Did Bwala represent, with his outing a couple of days ago, did he represent Nigeria? He didn’t. He shamed Nigeria,” Ibe said.
He added that the reaction inside the studio during the programme reflected poorly on the country.
“I mean, all of the snickering that was going on at the, you know, at the studio where the interview took place, you know, all of the laughing and the mockery was against Nigeria. It was not against Daniel Bwala. It was against Nigeria as a country and against us as a people.”
The former vice president’s aide further criticised what he described as the quality of individuals representing the country on major platforms.
“It is such a shame that we are living in this time when all that we have are skit makers, all that we have are comedians who are tapped to represent the interests of Nigeria. It’s such a shame. And there is nothing to explain it,” he said.
Ibe also questioned Bwala’s role in the interview, arguing that the presidential aide was not acting in Nigeria’s interest.
“Bwala was not there to represent our interests. He was there to advance his own interest,” he said.
According to him, the situation reflects broader problems within the current administration.
“And so what we have are people within the Tinubu-led administration who truly do not represent the Nigerian interest. And that is the aggregation. That is what we have. And that is why this administration continues to be a failure,” he said.
Ibe also accused the government of failing to address security challenges in the country.
“It is failing in every aspect. It is failing in the economy. It is failing in insecurity,” he said.
He further criticised Bwala’s comments during the interview, claiming the presidential aide ignored the worsening security situation.
“Daniel Bwala was in denial by the fact that the state of insecurity continues to worsen by the day. More people are being killed. And you deny that.”
Ibe warned that such denials could lead to even more troubling narratives.
“What else are they prepared to deny? Very soon they are going to deny the even existence of Nigeria, you know, as a nation,” he said.
Ibe also stressed that Nigerians expect individuals who represent the country on global platforms to demonstrate competence and credibility.
“We don’t have any other country but Nigeria, and at every point in time, our expectation is that whoever it is that is tapped to represent our interest, must be the best that we have, must not be based on political consideration,” he said.
Ibe went on to make further allegations about Bwala’s role during the last presidential campaign.
“Yes, Bwala had a job, had an assignment to do in the Atiku Abubakar campaign, and that was as a mole. And he did a fantastic job of it,” he said.
He concluded by criticising what he described as a pattern of rewarding individuals who undermine democratic values.
“We continue to reward characters who don’t mean well, anti-democratic elements, people who have sought to undermine democracy. It is such a shame, my brother.”
