By Chibiike Nwabuko
ABUJA NIGERIA – Self-aclaimed presidential spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, Daniel Bwala has gotten below his expectations .and has been reduced to Special Adviser on policy communication to the president.
Precise Post recalls that Bwala had barely announced himself as the new presidential spokesman when Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, issued a statement saying there was no “presidential spokesman” in that sense.
Basking in the euphoria and ecstacy of his new appointment by Presidwnt Tinubu he denigrated during the electioneering period, Bwala took to his verified X account and said: “Today, I equally had a brief chat with the Press Corps in the State House where I encouraged everyone to work in synergy without fear or favour. As the Spokesperson to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, I promise to work with every member of the team to advance the cause of our principal, Mr. President.”
In a swift reaction to this briefing, Onanuga announced the re-designation of Bwala as special adviser on policy communication to the president — a position that means the latest addition to President Bola Tinubu’s media team will now operate away from the presidential villa.
It all happened in a day’s job — on Monday, November 18.
Bwala was announced as the special adviser to media and public communication on November 14, leading to speculation about who would lead the president’s information management team.
Onanuga had been doing the job, issuing statements and making pronouncements on behalf of the president since the exit of Ngelale Ajuri, who was special adviser on media and publicity, in September.
However, after a meeting of members of the media team at the office of the spokesman at the presidential villa on Monday, there was a reluctance on the part of Bwala to depart, Precise Post gathered.
“It appeared he wanted to start using the office immediately. Incidentally, Onanuga, who moved into the office only recently, is currently with the president in Brazil for the G20 meeting, so it seemed Bwala wanted to take it over in his absence,” an insider told TheCable.
Another insider added that shortly after, Bwala moved into the press briefing room to address State House correspondents — to the shock of everyone.
“There is no issue as to the differences in terms of the responsibility; everybody knows his responsibility,” he told the media when asked what he would be doing.
“I only came to introduce myself to you and the role that was given to me by Mr. President. I told you that role was once occupied by Ajuri Ngelale.
“When Ajuri was there, the nomenclature was special adviser on media and publicity, and now that role is called special adviser on media and public communications (State House). Sunday Dare works from the office of the minister of information.”
He also posted on X: “Today, I resumed officially as the Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications/Spokesperson (State House). ”
“Spokesperson” was not part of his designation when it was announced four days earlier.
In faraway Brazil, Tinubu was said to have been furious on learning of Bwala’s manoeuvre and immediately instructed Onanuga to issue a clarification.
In his statement, Onanuga wrote: “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 communication machinery.
“The restructuring is as follows: Mr. Sunday Dare – hitherto Special Adviser on Public Communication and National Orientation, is now Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications.
“Mr. Daniel Bwala – announced last week as Special Adviser, Media and Public Communication, is now Special Adviser Policy Communication.
“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.”
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