The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has defended his principal’s choice of appointments of aides and heads of government establishments, describing them as ‘strategic’ rather than ‘tribalistic’.
Bwala made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’, monitored by our correspondent on Sunday night.
The presidential media aide specifically addressed recent accusations made by Borno South Senator, Mohammed Ali Ndume, who had alleged that President Tinubu was favouring the Yoruba ethnic group over others in his political appointments.
But, in response, Bwala dismissed the claims, stressing that national needs and not tribal sentiments influenced the President’s choices.
“Let me give you a good scenario,” he said. “Where in this country is the most hit by insecurity? The Northern Nigerian. The Chief of Defence Staff, the Minister of Defence, and the Minister of State for Defence—where are they from? These appointments are strategic. If you send somebody from another part of Nigeria to deal with insecurity, they can read meanings to it.”
Bwala further explained the logic behind appointments from the Southern Nigeria, linking them to economic priorities.
“Where are the bases for the commercial nerves of this country? Southern Nigeria. So it makes sense to put people who have an understanding of that place,” he said.
He also highlighted that the current list of appointees of Tinubu was far from exhaustive, indicating that more Nigerians across diverse backgrounds would be brought into government.
“I am just saying, in terms of the general spread of the appointments—we have over 7,000 appointments to be given. Even the list of Ambassadors has not been released. Many more people are going to come into government,” Bwala added.
