The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has disclosed that he underwent throat surgery shortly after his widely debated interview with Mehdi Hasan on Al Jazeera.
Bwala made the revelation during an appearance on News Central’s programme, 60 Minutes with Mr Kay, where he also responded to criticism trailing the interview and reactions across social media.
According to him, the surgery took place about eight days after the interview, although he made light of speculations surrounding the timing.
He added that he has since recovered and returned to full strength.
The presidential aide also took aim at a segment of online users identified with the “Obidient” movement, accusing them of prioritising political loyalty over national interest and engaging in coordinated criticism.
Addressing the interview itself, Bwala described Hasan’s style as confrontational, alleging that the journalist adopted an opposition-driven approach aimed at discrediting the government.
He explained that much of the discussion centred on his past remarks about President Tinubu while he was in the opposition—comments he acknowledged but said should not have dominated the conversation.
Bwala noted that he repeatedly admitted to making several of the statements highlighted but urged the interviewer to focus on the broader purpose of the engagement.
He further stated that the persistence of that line of questioning led to a tense exchange, during which he warned that he might begin to deny certain claims if the approach continued.
The interview, which circulated widely online, sparked significant backlash, with critics questioning his responses, especially after video clips were presented to counter some of his denials.
During the exchange, Hasan also raised concerns about Nigeria’s security situation, referencing reports from global rights organisations, while Bwala struggled to provide corresponding data in response.
