* Daniel Bwala (left) and Al Jazeera’s Mehdi Hasan.
The Pathfinder
Saturday April 11, 2026
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Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has disclosed that he underwent throat surgery just days after his widely debated interview with Mehdi Hasan of Al Jazeera.
Bwala made the revelation during an appearance on News Central’s programme 60 Minutes with Mr Kay, which aired on Friday, where he also addressed reactions trailing the interview.
According to him, the medical procedure took place eight days after the televised exchange, though he spoke humorously about the timing.
“Eight days after the interview with Mehdi Hasan, I underwent surgery on my throat. I don’t know whether it is the ‘Obidient’ people that threw that African thing, but in any case, I’m back and strong,” he said.
The presidential aide took a swipe at supporters of Peter Obi, popularly known as “Obidients,” accusing them of prioritising political loyalty over national interest.
He described them as a group that, in his view, deploys aggressive tactics on social media to advance their political agenda regardless of broader implications for the country.
Bwala also defended his performance during the Al Jazeera interview, characterising Hasan’s approach as confrontational and reflective of opposition-style journalism aimed at discrediting the government.
He explained that much of the interview initially focused on his past criticisms of President Tinubu while he was in the opposition, which he acknowledged but attempted to move beyond.
“I admitted I had said those things—indeed, more—but I asked that we move on to the purpose of the interview,” he said.
According to him, the persistence of that line of questioning led to tension during the exchange, noting that he eventually warned the interviewer he might begin to deny the claims if the questioning continued in that direction.
The interview had sparked widespread reactions across social media, with critics and supporters offering differing views on Bwala’s handling of the high-profile international appearance.
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