THE INSIDER: How Daniel Bwala was demoted as ‘presidential spokesman’ within 24 hours

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.