Tinubu administration won’t suppress opposition, says Daniel Bwala

Daniel Bwala, the president’s special adviser on policy communication, says it is wrong to assert that the Bola Tinubu administration is suppressing opposition voices.

Bwala spoke on Tuesday during an interview on New Hub, a Silverbird Television programme.

Recently, some opposition figures and parties have accused the administration of stifling dissent.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has repeatedly alleged that the federal government intimidates and harasses citizens, particularly those who oppose it, thereby paving the way for a one-party state.

Atiku had also cautioned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against using security agencies to muzzle the opposition.

However, Bwala said the Tinubu administration has been very tolerant of attacks from the other side of the aisle.

“The notion that the president and his administration are suppressing the opposition is very wrong; as a matter of fact, it is this president who is even more tolerant of the opposition,” he said.

“And I’ll give you a case study of myself. You know that I have been in the opposition. After the election, I was very critical of the government.

“The president has never, at any material time, tried to embarrass me or using the machinery of the state. Rather, the president used the other aspect of political engagement to convince people to join his administration and that enticed me.

“In the last one year, we have had the most tremendous attack from the opposition against the government. The government has not taken any position against them. But you need to know two things.”

The presidential aide said the law applies to everyone regardless of political affiliation, adding that the media should always scrutinise and authenticate claims before dishing them out.