Who Is Mr. President’s Spokesperson? 

JIMOH ADEBAYO 

The question above has become a subject of discourse, particularly among Nigerians in the villages. It is further heightened by the opposition’s delight in forcing its re-occurrence whenever there is a joint engagement in local events just to make mockery of APC supporters.
I remember that Mr. Daniel Bwala was announced in a press release some weeks ago as an adviser on Media Public Communications (State House). The specific term, “State House,” did not need further explanations as it is quite unambiguous in meaning that he was the spokesperson.

No sooner had the name got into the air than the media, Channels TV, hurriedly invited Mr. Bwala for an interview. Anyone who watched the program that day had no cause to doubt Mr. Daniel Bwala’s efficiency and his usual approach whenever he features on television programs. He was unconfrontational, and his replies to questions from Seun Okinbaloye in standard form spilled his competence.

Not quite twelve hours after the television outing, another press release dropped into the cool air of the public, informing Nigerians that amongst the three Special Advisers on media to Mr. President, no one had been designated as a spokesperson. In the press release, Mr Bwala’s position was swapped to Special Adviser Media on policy communication, even as Mr. President was far away in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil attending the G20 summit. In public opinion, a case of envy is established. Arising from the confusion, comments began to reel out on social media platforms that Bwala is not a “Lagos boy.” This goes a long way to insult the sensibility of his appointor.

Nigerian is a United country, and in the mindset of Mr. President, it has to be treated as such. When has the office of Spokesperson to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria become a competition? The idea of three Spokepersons for Mr. President will bring about inconsistency and disharmony in information dissemination. Our Tinubu cannot afford this! The concept should be urgently killed.

Following the comment of the notion ‘not a lagos boy’, series of comments erupted; re-echoes of Bwala’s tweet against Tinubu when the former was with Atiku filled social media platforms, his defection to APC from PDP was given wider publicity than before.
One reliance that settles the mind of advocate of efficiency and competence is that the president knows human beings and what they can do. Fortunately, nobody recommended Bwala to Mr. President: he did the recommendation by himself, approved his own desire, and specifically indicated the portfolio of Bwala unambiguously as Special Adviser on media(State House). In the play, Julius Caesar, Antonio honors Julius Caesar, saying, ‘when Caesar says it is done’. Why will Tinubu say and it is upturned?

President Tinubu’s mindset in bringing Bwala on board as his spokesperson is clearly known — Bwala is from the North. His appointment, which will place him closer to Mr. President is largely indicative and suggestive of solidifying North/South unity. It is the perogative of Mr. President to appoint whom he wants to work with him. He also needs able hands that can propagate the Renewed Hope Agenda that will enhance his drive to jettison Nigeria from the inherited social and economic quagmire.

Bwala will do this better!
Who, therefore, is trying to change the mindset of Mr. President? Such persons must know clearly that Tinubu prepared sufficiently over years for his today as President of Nigeria.
Who among them is attempting to meander Mr. President’s decision? Such fellows should understand from the President’s antecedents that he is not a push-over, can’t be insubordinated, or can be dictated to.

The Commander-in-Chief himself knows Bwala; What else?
I am, thus, convinced that Mr. President is a corrector and will straighten things about who his spokesperson is.

Let Bwala do the work, I suggest.