In a revealing television interview, a senior aide to President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that a significant majority of individuals now working with the Nigerian leader were once his political adversaries.
A Stance of Silence from the Presidency
Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, stated that the Presidency is deliberately maintaining a neutral position regarding recent ambassadorial nominations. He explained this approach during an appearance on Arise Television's Morning Show on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
Bwala emphasized that the executive branch is refraining from public commentary to avoid prejudicing the ongoing confirmation process in the National Assembly. "Our posture from the Presidency is to be silent until the National Assembly is able to run through the confirmation process," Bwala said. He argued that active lobbying by the Presidency could undermine the Senate's constitutional role in vetting the nominees.
A History of Reconciling with Opponents
The adviser made these comments while addressing specific concerns about some nominees who had publicly criticized or acted against Tinubu in the past. He used the opportunity to highlight a defining characteristic of the President's political history.
"Looking at the history and trajectory of Tinubu, I can say that more than 70 per cent of people with him have worked against him in the past at some point," Bwala asserted. He described Nigeria's political environment as "toxic" and noted that leaders must use discretion in deciding whether to appoint former foes.
Personal Encounter and Maternal Influence
Bwala shared a personal anecdote from his first meeting with President Tinubu on January 10 of the previous year. He recounted how he attempted to apologize for previously avoiding the President's attempts to contact him.
According to Bwala, Tinubu immediately put him at ease, dismissing the need for an apology regarding past disagreements, including concerns over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. More importantly, the President attributed his forgiving nature to the influence of his mother.
"The President said, 'As the head of the market women, she taught him that if you are going to be angry with people just because they offended you, you will wake up one morning and find that there are no people left for you to lead,'" Bwala narrated. This philosophy, he suggested, shapes Tinubu's approach to building broad political alliances.
Nominees Awaiting Senate Confirmation
The context for Bwala's remarks is President Tinubu's recent submission of a list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation. This batch follows an earlier submission of three names.
The high-profile list includes several notable figures:
- Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
- Former presidential aide and author, Reno Omokri.
- Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode.
- Former Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, clarified that specific country postings for the nominees would only be assigned after they successfully pass Senate screening. He also noted that the list includes four women among the career ambassadors and six women among the non-career appointees.
Bwala's insights provide a rare look into the political calculations and personal philosophy guiding appointments at the highest level of Nigerian government, underscoring a strategy of reconciliation and inclusion over political vendetta.
