Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply rebuked Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, dismissing him as a “political opportunist” and “turncoat” after Bwala suggested Atiku accept that the presidency may not be his destiny.
Bwala, who served as spokesperson for Atiku’s 2023 presidential campaign under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the remarks during a televised interview on Monday. “If I could meet Alhaji Atiku Abubakar face to face, I’d tell him to believe in destiny. It seems it may not be God’s will for him to govern Nigeria,” Bwala said, claiming Atiku had lost 60-70% of his political base.
In a fiery response on Tuesday, Atiku’s media office labeled Bwala’s comments as “sanctimonious pontificating laced with bitterness and duplicity.” The statement accused Bwala of hypocrisy, noting his past role in Atiku’s campaign. “It is ironic that Bwala, whose relevance stems from Atiku’s platform, now presumes to lecture a statesman of global standing on legacy and destiny,” the statement read.
Atiku’s team further criticized the Tinubu administration for its “obsession” with the former vice president, suggesting the relentless attacks indicate Atiku remains a significant political threat. “If Atiku is a spent force, why the smear campaign? He is the most formidable opposition figure, leading a coalition that threatens the ruling party’s decaying edifice,” the statement asserted.
The media office highlighted Atiku’s ongoing efforts to build a broad-based opposition coalition aimed at addressing Nigeria’s economic collapse, institutional failures, and democratic erosion. “Atiku’s legacy as a unifier and patriot is etched in the consciousness of millions, impervious to the bile of defectors turned defenders of dysfunction,” it added.
Reaffirming Atiku’s commitment, the statement emphasized his focus on Nigeria’s progress, dismissing Bwala’s remarks as “petty ego trips” irrelevant to the urgent task of national recovery.
