Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has defended the administration’s efforts to connect with Nigerians at the grassroots level, while criticizing media portrayals of public sentiment.…….CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Speaking during an interview with PAPShow, Bwala highlighted the government’s approach to understanding citizens’ concerns firsthand. “We go to the marketplaces and price items. Recently, we were in the Northwest of Nigeria. We go to the street and do what we call street advocacy,” he said.
He elaborated on the administration’s outreach methods: “We hold what we call coffee meetings with people from different demographics—the farmers, the students, and the rest. And we talk to them. I don’t know who else is an ordinary Nigerian than these individuals.”
Bwala questioned media claims about the “feelings of ordinary Nigerians,” stressing the need for transparency in sourcing. “Sometimes when the media mirrors a question and says ‘this is the feeling of the ordinary Nigerians,’ I begin to wonder, because media love the narratives of hiding behind anonymity to push their own agenda, which is anti-Tinubu government,” he said.
He further emphasized journalistic standards, noting: “If you are telling me ordinary Nigerians, give me the source of your ordinary Nigerians. Source information is an integral part of media. In fact, it forms the basis of the credibility of the media. You must give a source.”
Bwala’s comments underscore the ongoing tension between the current administration and sections of the Nigerian media over coverage of government policies and public perception.…….CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
