‘I Never Called Tinubu a Drug Lord’ – Aide Breaks Silence on 2023 Campaign Claims

A media aide to President Bola Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, has dismissed claims that he described the president as a drug lord during the heated 2023 presidential campaign.

According to the presidential aide, the allegation is false and does not reflect his position at the time.

Bwala spoke during an interview on Symfoni TV, where he addressed lingering controversies over statements made during the election period.

He explained that although he worked with Atiku Abubakar during the election, he never resorted to name-calling or personal

attacks against Tinubu.

According to him, he maintained a clear stance throughout the campaign and did not align with individuals who used such labels.

Bwala stressed that his focus during that period was on raising questions and seeking clarity on issues that were already in the public space. He said his intention was not to promote damaging narratives, but to ensure that matters of public concern were properly addressed.

He noted that some persons within the opposition camp used strong and controversial language, but he deliberately distanced himself from such remarks. He added that his disagreement with that line of attack was consistent and known among those he worked with.

Speaking further, he said many people misunderstood his position at the time. He explained that asking questions about an issue should not be interpreted as endorsing a claim.

He said: “I have never called him a derogatory name. I have never called him that. That is where they are missing it. Where they are missing it is that there were other individuals that used that. If you ask people from the other side where I worked with, if there was one thing I disagreed with throughout the campaign was the appellation that he is a drug lord. But what I was saying was that that question around that needs to be cleared.”

Bwala maintained that his approach during the campaign was issue-based. He said he believed that sensitive allegations should be clarified openly, rather than ignored or politicised.