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Why Bwala was demoted as Tinubu’s spokesperson

Published

2 years ago

November 20, 2024

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Daniel Bwala had barely announced himself as the new presidential spokesman when Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, issued a statement saying there was no “presidential spokesman” in that sense.

To boot, Onanuga announced the re-designation of Bwala as special adviser on policy communication to the president — a position that means the latest addition to President Bola Tinubu’s media team will now operate away from the presidential villa.

It all happened in a day’s job — on Monday, November 18.

Bwala was announced as the special adviser to media and public communication on November 14, leading to speculation about who would lead the president’s information management team.

Onanuga had been doing the job, issuing statements and making pronouncements on behalf of the president since the exit of Ngelale Ajuri, who was special adviser on media and publicity, in September.

However, after a meeting of members of the media team at the office of the spokesman at the presidential villa on Monday, there was a reluctance on the part of Bwala to depart.

“It appeared he wanted to start using the office immediately. Incidentally, Onanuga, who moved into the office only recently, is currently with the president in Brazil for the G20 meeting, so it seemed Bwala wanted to take it over in his absence,” an insider told TheCable.

Another insider added that shortly after, Bwala moved into the press briefing room to address State House correspondents — to the shock of everyone.

“There is no issue as to the differences in terms of the responsibility; everybody knows his responsibility,” he told the media when asked what he would be doing.

“I only came to introduce myself to you and the role that was given to me by Mr. President. I told you that role was once occupied by Ajuri Ngelale.

“When Ajuri was there, the nomenclature was special adviser on media and publicity, and now that role is called special adviser on media and public communications (State House). Sunday Dare works from the office of the minister of information.”

He also posted on X: “Today, I resumed officially as the Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications/Spokesperson (State House). ”

“Spokesperson” was not part of his designation when it was announced four days earlier.

‘TINUBU WAS FURIOUS’

In faraway Brazil, Tinubu was said to have been furious on learning of Bwala’s manoeuvre and immediately instructed Onanuga to issue a clarification.

In his statement, Onanuga wrote: “President Bola Tinubu has re-designated the positions of two recently appointed officials in the State House media and communications team to enhance efficiency within the government’s communication machinery.

“The restructuring is as follows: Mr. Sunday Dare – hitherto Special Adviser on Public Communication and National Orientation, is now Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications.

“Mr. Daniel Bwala – announced last week as Special Adviser, Media and Public Communication, is now Special Adviser Policy Communication.

“These appointments, along with the existing role of Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, underscore that there is no single individual spokesperson for the Presidency. Instead, all the three Special Advisers will collectively serve as spokespersons for the government.”

A CASE OF ‘FAILED COUP’

Tinubu had assembled a very large media team — the biggest in Nigeria’s history — and this might have led to the game of intrigues from the day he assumed office.

Dele Alake, commissioner of information and strategy in Lagos state from 1999-2007 when Tinubu was governor, had been positioned to be special adviser on media, strategy and special duties to the president.

It seemed a done deal until Seyi Tinubu, whom insiders say plays a major role in appointments made by his father, decided to torpedo it.

“Seyi brought Ajuri. After the appointment, he asked Ajuri to assert himself from the get-go and that was what Ajuri did. That gave him unfettered access to the president. Other members of the team did not have that access,” another insider told TheCable.

“When Ajuri fell out of favour, Seyi started working on bringing Bwala to replace him. He believes a presidential spokesman should be very vocal and should be on TV every day attacking the president’s critics, so Bwala fitted the bill for him.

“When Bwala’s appointment was announced, Seyi also told him to adopt the same Ajuri strategy: go on the podium, declare yourself spokesman and take over the office.”

Bwala tried the script. It worked for less than 24 hours.

All indications are now that he would be speaking for the office of special adviser to the president on policy coordination, headed by Hadiza Bala Usman, rather than the president.

Credit: TheCable

News

Wike Declares Abuja ‘Closed’ to Critics, Says Tinubu’s Projects Have Silenced Opposition((Photos)

Published

2 hours ago

July 17, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that President Bola Tinubu’s extensive infrastructure delivery in Abuja has effectively neutralised political critics, insisting that visible performance remains the strongest response to opposition.

Speaking during the commissioning of the reconstructed Arab/Gbazango Road in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, Wike said the scale of projects executed under the Tinubu administration had transformed governance in the FCT and provided residents with tangible evidence of government performance.

“If there are opponents of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with what you have done in their lifetime, they cannot do anything again. If they go to the people of Gbazango, the people will ask them, ‘When you were there, what did you do?’ This is what we call ‘operation show your report card.’ If you call Tinubu today, he will show you his report card on the satellite towns and on the city. Abuja is shut down. Abuja is closed,” Wike declared.

The minister made the remarks as the FCT Administration concluded its 31-day project commissioning programme, which began on June 9 and ended on July 17, 2026.

Describing the exercise as unprecedented in Nigeria’s history, Wike said no President had ever commissioned and flagged off projects continuously for such a long period.

“Everything that has a beginning has an end. Today we are taking a break to refill and energise ourselves before returning before the end of the year. We thank God that from June 9 till today, everything went smoothly. There was no accident, no incident that we would regret, no fighting. Everybody came and left happily,” he said.

According to him, the successful completion of the commissioning exercise reflected the administration’s commitment to delivering development rather than making promises.

“It is unprecedented in the history of this country for a President to commission and flag off projects continuously for 28 days. When something unusual like this happens, you can see the joy on the faces of the people,” he said.

Wike noted that residents of Kubwa and Gbazango had experienced firsthand the impact of good governance through the reconstruction of a road that had long impeded movement and commercial activities.

“For them, this is the impact of positive governance. For them, government has finally come home. If you see what this road looked like before now, you will understand why the people are rejoicing,” he said.

He added that improved road infrastructure would stimulate economic activities and improve the livelihoods of traders and other business operators in the area.

“Governance is not difficult. Governance is about commitment. Governance is about making the people happy, and today the people here are happy because they have been positively impacted by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.

The minister disclosed that since Tinubu assumed office, the FCT Administration had commissioned more than 53 projects, describing the achievement as evidence of purposeful leadership.

He assured residents that the pace of infrastructure development would continue, announcing plans to commission at least 10 additional projects before the end of the year.

“We are taking a short break, but before the next round of national political activities, we will return to commission another 10 projects,” Wike said.

Responding to a request by community leaders for improved water supply, the minister directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority to urgently address the challenge.

“Go home and give your people water. That is your responsibility. You must be prepared to solve the problem,” he directed.

The Arab/Gbazango Road project marked the final commissioning in the FCT Administration’s anniversary programme, which featured the inauguration and flag-off of major road, transport, housing and public infrastructure projects across Abuja under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

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FG Renames Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway After President Tinubu

Published

3 hours ago

July 17, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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The Federal Government has renamed the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the multi-trillion-naira infrastructure project as the fulfilment of a vision conceived by the President nearly three decades ago.

According to CityNews, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the decision on Thursday during a briefing, saying the ministry resolved to immortalise Tinubu by naming the flagship highway after him.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the signature infrastructure projects of the Tinubu administration and is estimated to cost about ₦15 trillion upon completion.

Addressing journalists, Umahi said the decision followed consultations with the leadership and management of the Federal Ministry of Works.

According to him, the ministry considered the President’s longstanding commitment to the project before arriving at the decision.

“By the power conferred on me as the Honourable Minister of Works, and in consultation with the Permanent Secretary, the Minister of State, the directors and the entire staff of the ministry, we have decided to name the entire Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This is a dream that Mr President had about 27 years ago,” Umahi said.

The 750-kilometre coastal highway is designed to connect Lagos to Calabar, traversing several coastal states and providing a major transportation corridor expected to boost economic activities, tourism, trade and regional integration.

The project is regarded as one of the Tinubu administration’s flagship legacy initiatives, with sections of the highway already nearing completion.

Government officials have repeatedly argued that the road will reduce travel time, improve connectivity and unlock investment opportunities along Nigeria’s coastline.

Despite its strategic importance, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has generated widespread public debate since construction commenced in March 2024.

Critics have questioned the project’s cost, procurement process and alignment, with concerns also raised over the demolition of properties along parts of the route.

The Federal Government, however, has consistently defended the project, maintaining that all due processes were followed and insisting that the long-term economic benefits outweigh the initial challenges associated with its execution.

Estimated to cost about ₦15 trillion upon completion, the coastal highway is expected to become one of Nigeria’s largest road infrastructure projects. GeographicReference

The government believes the road will serve as a catalyst for economic development by improving access to ports, facilitating interstate commerce and attracting investments to coastal communities.