In a surprising turn of events, Daniel Bwala, the former presidential campaign spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, met with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Wednesday. The closed-door talks concluded with Bwala expressing his readiness to collaborate with the Tinubu-led administration.
In a statement to State House correspondents, Bwala declared his willingness to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) if it meant supporting Tinubu. He stated, "APC is a party. President Bola Tinubu is my motivation; if supporting him will take me to APC, so be it."
The meeting and Bwala's subsequent announcement generated a buzz on social media, with reactions pouring in from Nigerians expressing diverse views. Bwala shared a picture of himself shaking hands with President Tinubu and a brief 13-second clip of the event on social media platforms.
Bwala's post on X read, "Today I was delighted to meet @officialABAT, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, (GCFR) in the Villa to show appreciation and support for the bold decisions he is taking to deal with the crisis confronting our dear country."
The online reactions ranged from support to skepticism, reflecting the polarizing nature of Nigerian politics. Some praised Bwala's decision, highlighting his long-standing relationship with President Tinubu, while others criticized him as a political opportunist.
One user, @IamThatNaijaGuy, accused Bwala of lacking genuine belief in Atiku's vision and suggested that his allegiance was motivated by personal gain. Another user, @MissPeals, criticized Bwala for speaking from both sides of his mouth, calling him unstable and advising against taking him seriously. @Osi_Suave criticized Bwala, calling him a disgrace with no morals or shame.
@delaq1829 defended Bwala, asserting that those accusing him of being a political jobber did not know the bond he shared with President Tinubu long before the elections.
The online discourse also delved into Bwala's political history, noting his previous defection from the APC after the party announced a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 presidential election. Bwala, in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise, had criticized the party's decision, citing a departure from the values of inclusivity, tolerance, common prosperity, and diversity.
