Daniel Bwala, the former spokesman for the Atiku Presidential Campaign, made a surprising announcement on Wednesday, expressing his unwavering commitment to supporting the administration of President Bola Tinubu. This commitment, he declared, might even lead him to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I told him today, I am committing to play my part to support your administration, and I have no apologies to anybody,” Bwala confidently told State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
Bwala, who had been a vocal critic of the APC and the Tinubu administration, seemed to have had a change of heart. On January 2, 2024, he had advocated for opposition parties to form a strong coalition to challenge the APC’s dominance in the 2027 general elections. However, his recent statements indicated a significant shift in his political stance.
“APC is a party. President Bola Tinubu is my motivation; if supporting him will take me to APC, so be it,” he stated firmly when questioned about the possibility of defecting to the APC.
This change in allegiance came as a surprise, especially considering Bwala’s prior criticisms of the governing party. Nonetheless, he commended President Tinubu for taking decisive action, particularly in the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu.
“Some of his (Tinubu’s) Ministers that were allegedly reported to have committed infractions, instead of protecting them, he asked that the law should have its course and suspended somebody without wasting time. That, to me, is impressive because it’s about the people,” Bwala acknowledged.
Referring to recent policy changes, Bwala also praised the President’s announcement of a 60% reduction in travel entourages for the Presidency and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“There has been this outcry that the government is bloated. Yesterday, he introduced a policy that reduced the cost of governance, and today, he told me it is just the beginning,” remarked Bwala.
The legal practitioner revealed that the President assured him that more cost-cutting measures are in the pipeline to further reduce the overall cost of governance.
“What I’m saying apart from today that I’m talking here is that you all need to visit my Twitter page. In the last few days, I have been expressing my surprise and appreciation to the President for the decisions he is making. So, this is not about a political party. And you need to know that, like I said, I was with him before I left. And I was doggedly committed to him.
“I told him today that I am committing to play my part to support your administration, and I have no apologies to anybody,” he emphasized.
This unexpected turn of events raises questions about the dynamics within political circles and the factors influencing individual allegiances in the Nigerian political landscape. Only time will tell the broader implications of Bwala’s shift in support and the potential impact on the political landscape.