The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed strong disapproval of President Bola Tinubu’s decision to appoint Mr. Daniel Bwala, a former campaign spokesperson for ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as his Special Adviser on Public Communication and Media.
HURIWA firmly stated that Bwala will struggle to convey any genuine accomplishments of the government to the Nigerian public due to his controversial reputation. “The mass media is unlikely to regard his statements as credible, given his history of disparaging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s integrity during the 2023 presidential campaign,” the organization noted in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko.
Additionally, HURIWA condemned Tinubu for retaining former Lagos lawmaker Mrs. Mojisolaoluwa Alli-Macaulay as the Executive Director (Operations) of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) despite ongoing allegations of misappropriating COVID-19 relief funds.
“It is a flagrant act of executive lawlessness to elevate an individual with unresolved allegations of misconduct to a prominent role within the NSITF, especially considering the agency’s history of alleged financial misconduct,” HURIWA stated. They pointed out that Ngozi Olejeme, a previous head of the NSITF, had been arraigned in court for a billion-naira fraud case.
The association added, “With numerous allegations of mismanagement against appointees in the NSITF, it is morally reprehensible for the President to appoint a figure like Alli-Macaulay, who has been accused of diverting aid intended for vulnerable Lagosians. Has Nigeria truly run out of candidates free from accusations of public fund misappropriation?”
HURIWA further emphasized that Bwala’s appointment signals to the public that President Tinubu disregards public opinion. “How can the President expect any reasonable Nigerian to trust anything said by Daniel Bwala, who previously leveled serious accusations against him, including links to drug trafficking?” they questioned.
“What has changed since Bwala was publicly denouncing Tinubu during the campaign, and now he has accepted a presidential position? The memories of Nigerians are fresh, and they recall the damaging allegations made against Tinubu during the campaign, which were widely broadcasted and circulated in major newspapers.”
The organization urged the President to prioritize ethics and morality in his public appointments, reminding him that neglecting public perception undermines effective governance. “Imagine the same individual who made sensational allegations against the President is now his spokesperson, as if Nigerians have no memory.”
