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Roforofo fight! Where was your conscience when you gave Wike award, defiant Bwala fires Arise TV
It was a day of hot exchanges between Daniel Bwala, presidential spokesman and Arise Television crew, as guest and hosts, on Monday, practically pulled off their gloves for a hard-knuckle over what seems to be the settlement of a long-standing feud.
On the Morning Show, the breakfast programme of the network, Bwala had engaged Rufai Oseni, one of the prominent voices and Ayo Mairo-Ese, another female anchor, describing part of the programme as “gossip session” to which the crew objected, but which he insisted was his own assessment.
“I’ve never been afraid to appear on Arise TV. I’ve been a friend of this TV station. And like I said when I appeared on Arise in London and here…during your gossip session you call it story trending, the gentle lady here, Ayo insinuated by what he said – let him come here, as if I’m running away from this station.
“It’s for that singular reason I tweeted and said that’s an innuendo – fix a date and time and I’ll be at the Lagos studio to answer your question.”
Regarding the reason for his volte-face in recanting all the lacerating diatribes against President Bola Tinubu, only to turn back and serve in his government, Bwala replied that he said all the things he did because he was in opposition and now he was no longer in that camp after meeting with Tinubu, it was now in his place to defend the government.
Sample of the bitter exchange, went thus:
Bwala: “When I made a decision on the 10th of January after I visited the President, from that day till date, I speak well of the President and I support his activities. Now you ask…”
Rufai: “You said Tinubu’s government was not legitimate, all the things you said, do you still stand by them or you’ve had a change of heart?”
Bwala: “They’re irrelevant!”
Rufai: “They’re irrelevant, so the question is, you’re not a man of convictions, because if you said those things out of your convictions, then, so your convictions changed?”
Bwala: “But here, everyday, Wike, Wike, Wike, Wike Wike and at the end of the day, you people sat and nominated him as the best Minister. So, you’re not a station of conviction?”
Rufai: “So, you’re saying you don’t have convictions?”
Bwala: “You don’t have convictions, but everyday, Wike, Wike, Wike, Wike Wike and then you came together and gave him award.”
Bwala, still maintaining the reason for recanting his earlier position on Tinubu, explained that it came principally by shedding the toga of an opposition and putting on that of an insider in the Tinubu camp, where he was able to see things clearly from that perspective.
Hear him: “When I made the decision to support the President, I decided to pay attention to his policies and the manifesto and further do the research. In doing so, I tried to look at where, for example, there were failure, I tried to know why.
“For example, there was a time there was this food inflation and it was carried all over the places. And then I tried to find out what was the cause of the food inflation. And then I realised there were natural disasters in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, which would have caused it and then we had insecurity in the North-West.
“The research was to find the reason for whatever was behind the policy and where there was for example a misinterpretation of the policy, we come out and we give our perspective. Government is not perfect. Government will never be perfect. Government is a work in progress.
“At every time, government assesses what it does, take it back from Nigerians, improves on them and move forward. There’s nothing magical about what I said before and what I’m saying now. I said it in my capacity as an opposition.
The presidential spokesman, who took exceptions to the insinuation that he was a liar, said for instance he was now clear as to the reason behind Tinubu’s borrowing, which had been heavily criticised in many quarters, stating that it was the only option available for him in the face of the parlous state of resources available to his government.
He also explained that the twin policies of removal of subsidy on petroleum products and floating of the naira, were necessary to stoke the interest of Nigeria’s foreign creditors to do business with the country, adding that it was when he actually met with the President that all the cards were laid on the table to enable him understand.
The exchange has since sparked reactions across social media, with some supporting Oseni’s line of questioning while others criticised Bwala’s response as dismissive.
An X user with @MezieAbi, Mezie Abia, said, “Daniel Bwala is a shameless man who speaks from both sides of the mouth. He’s in the league of Reno Omokri and FFK who can even sing the devil’s praises as long as they’ll have some crumbs to feed on from the devil.
“Daniel Bwala called Tinubu unprintable names on this platform, today, he’s shamelessly defending all the unprintable things he called Tinubu just this yesterday. Reno Omokri called Tinubu a drug lord who must be stopped and even led a protest against Tinubu in London, today, Reno Omokri is defending every single name he called Tinubu just yesterday.
“Femi Kayode called Tinubu names and even mocked Tinubu’s teeth, today, Tinubu is using the same poisonous teeth to cut the National cake for FFK and of course, he still shamelessly swallows the cake. Men with no ounce of integrity.”
In another post directed at Oseni, another user simply identified as Akereyejo (@Palermo_seun) cautioned the Arise broadcaster to uphold professionalism in the discharge of his duties.
He tweeted, “As a journalist, you should be objective in your questions because the goal is to inform the public about government policies. However, he barely gathers any useful information from his interviews, as he is more focused on entertaining his viewers.”
In another post, Sola Ogunlola (@sola_ogunlola) said, “But you know every journalist can’t be slaves to the politicians. Any public office holder that can’t be squeezed is not ready to serve.”
A tweep by AnzehAjose (@anzehnangah) stated that “Bwala’s only response to this was that he was in the opposition, which is why he criticised. He had no conviction in what he said then and has no conviction in what he is saying now. What else do we need to know that these politicians have no principles or ideologies? Selfish people.”
Olanrewaju Michael (@iwologbon) said, “Some things are better left unsaid. The same person he criticised finds him worthy of appointment into an important role, why make it sound like it’s supposed to be a death sentence to take such an appointment? There are other issues to discuss about. Rufai can do better, Fr.”
The idea of blanket pardoning of terrorists instead of punishing them is a disservice to their victims, Christian Association of Nigerian Americans (CANAN), has said, urging the Federal Government to halt the programme which has since raised a lot of dust within the polity.
The group told reporters during a zoom meeting that reintegrating suspected terrorists into society without first putting them through the judicial process amounted to great injustice which should never be allowed to happen.
Dr James Fadel, and Banjo Olaniyan, President, and Executive Director of the body, while outlining its position on terrorism, religious freedom and security reforms, also reviewed the thinking of Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor, during the recent U.S.–Nigeria Faith Heroes Award in Washington, D.C. on the volatile security situation in Nigeria.
It said: “CANAN remains concerned about reports that some captured terrorist suspects have been reintegrated into society without transparent judicial processes.
“We respectfully urge the Federal Government to ensure that all persons accused of terrorism are handled in accordance with the rule of law. Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done. Upholding due process honours the memory of victims, strengthens public confidence in the justice system, and discourages future acts of violent extremism,” the association said.
Expressing excitement on some of the feats recorded by security operatives in recent times, the group, particularly commended them over the arrest of suspected commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), saying those efforts should be followed by diligent prosecution in line with the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Hear the group: “Due process, accountability, and appropriate punishment for those found guilty are essential to justice for victims and to deterring future acts of terrorism.”
The association equally welcomed continued counterterrorism cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, saying every successful operation against terrorist groups strengthens hope for lasting peace, protects innocent lives and contributes to Nigeria’s stability and development.
On the proposed State Police, CANAN congratulated the National Assembly and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for advancing constitutional reforms to establish the new policing structure, describing it as an important step in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
It, however, urged the authorities to include credible civil society representatives in State Police oversight structures to promote transparency, accountability, public confidence and respect for human rights.
The briefing also drew attention to Pastor Adeboye’s message at the Faith Heroes Award, where he thanked the United States Government for supporting Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts but stressed that the country still faced an uphill battle against terrorism.
Recalling Adeboye’s remarks, the association quoted him as saying: “While I deeply appreciate the support of the United States Government, the mission is far from over. Innocent Nigerians continue to be killed almost daily by terrorist groups.”
CANAN said the cleric also encouraged Nigerians in the diaspora to engage U.S. policymakers on the need for stronger American support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaign.
The cleric also said: “The administration should intensify efforts to identify, investigate, and bring to justice not only those who carry out terrorist attacks but also those who sponsor, finance, and benefit from terrorism.
“Dismantling the entire network behind terrorism is indispensable if Nigeria is to bring this menace to an end.”
The association said Adeboye also appealed to Christians across the country and everyone who values religious freedom to stand together against terrorism and violent extremism.
It noted that he expressed concern over attacks on Christian communities in Northern Nigeria, pointing out that the Redeemed Christian Church of God has more than 8,000 churches across the region.
CANAN further recalled Adeboye’s reflection on a time when Christians, Muslims and adherents of traditional religions lived peacefully together and freely practised their faith, saying he described the current wave of religious violence and intolerance as a departure from those ideals.
The association said it would continue to advocate justice, religious freedom, national unity and the protection of every Nigerian, regardless of faith or ethnicity.
“For the sake of the innocent victims, the displaced, and future generations, we will not keep silent. We will continue to work with governments, faith leaders, civil society organisations, and international partners to promote peace, defend human dignity, and support communities affected by terrorism,” the association said.
Nothing outside external intervention free from direct and indirect government influences, will assuage the feelings of Adeniyi Adeyemi, controversial Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), in his current ordeal with the Federal Government
He wants President Bola Tinubu to constitute an independent, multi-stakeholder investigative panel to probe the controversy surrounding the council and the alleged N1.3 billion budget allocation.
Adeyemi, who made the request through an open letter to the President is emphatic that the current efforts by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the PFIPC scandal, would yield little positive result.
Maintaining that he did not believe the agency would come up with the true picture of what transpired, in the saga, which has seized the national space in the last three weeks, Adeyemi, said impartiality under the current framework of ICPC was almost zero.
In the letter copied to both Nigerian and global institutions, he wrote: “I commend your recent directive tasking the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with investigating the circumstances surrounding the PFIPC Scandal and ₦1.3 billion allocation inserted into the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
“This directive is a vital first step, but the structural realities of this investigation compel me to speak out of a profound desire for absolute transparency.
“Under the current framework, obtaining a truly impartial hearing presents severe structural challenges. The public narrative emanating from official channels remains heavily weighted toward my immediate arrest, effectively overshadowing the gravity of the systemic vulnerabilities and high-level involvement I have brought to light. True accountability cannot be achieved when the agency conducting the investigation answers directly to the branch of government within which the core allegations lie.
“Furthermore, I must state clearly that walking freely into custody under the current arrangement poses an immediate, existential threat to my life. I have received verified, highly reliable intelligence indicating that I am targeted for elimination the moment I surface in an unmonitored environment.
“This is not an unfounded fear. My concerns are deeply validated by the highly alarming events surrounding Mr. Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, a central intermediary in this matter.
Official reports claim Mr. Tanimola tragically died in a sudden fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Utako, Abuja. Yet, there remains a total absence of independent eyewitness or media verification of any such inferno.
“More disturbingly, under highly unclear circumstances and without the official involvement of any federal capital regulatory agency, the entire Kachi Hotel structure was swiftly invaded by unidentified armed actors and manually demolished down to the rubble days later — effectively erasing a vital physical crime scene and erasing material evidence.
“Following this calculated destruction of a key locus of this investigation, alongside multiple direct attempts on my life and the safety of my family, I am forced to communicate from a secure, undisclosed location.
“If this investigation is to command the absolute trust of the Nigerian public and the international community, it must transcend standard bureaucratic boundaries. Therefore, I respectfully urge Your Excellency to expand the scope of this inquiry by establishing an independent, multi-stakeholder investigative panel.
“To guarantee complete neutrality, this panel should comprise:
- Civil Society Organisations: Specifically Amnesty International, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and other transparency Organisations.
- The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA): To guarantee strict adherence to constitutional due process.
- Independent Media Representatives: Selected members from reputable print and broadcast institutions to ensure unfettered, transparent access to documentation.
- International Financial Observers: Representatives from the World Bank and the IMF, given that the funds in question tie directly to multilateral credit frameworks.
- Human Rights Observers: Amnesty International, to monitor compliance with international safety and legal standards.
- Diplomatic Observers: Representatives from the United Nations, United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, ECOWAS and the African Union.
- Statutory Enforcement: The ICPC and EFCC, serving as technical partners within this broader, independent coalition.
“The moment this independent, multi-stakeholder panel is constituted, I will immediately step forward to present comprehensive documentation and verifiable evidences. A system cannot credibly investigate itself when its own key actors are central to the discourse.
“By broadening this panel, you will demonstrate to the world that your administration’s commitment to anti-corruption is absolute, institutional, and above palace politics. The international community is closely watching how Nigeria handles this test of fiscal integrity and governance.
“I remain fully prepared to present the facts and cooperate entirely with a balanced, secure and independent panel.”
All is now set for the wholesome debate on President Bola Tinubu’s proposal for the creation of state police, with members of the House of Representatives, abandoning their own version of the pitch in favour of that of the executive.
The development, which was part of Tuesday’s plenary, saw the members began an accelerated hearing on the version of the legislation submitted by the President recently, leading to its speedily racing through the first and second readings to rest at the committee stage.
After the Green Chambers adopted the presidential version, effectively suspending the House’s earlier proposal, and attention shifted to the Executive-backed amendment, the document was transported to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative action.
The Executive bill is expected to undergo detailed scrutiny at the committee stage, where lawmakers will examine its key provisions before it is returned to the floor for further consideration.
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