Bwala Backs Wike’s Aide, Accuses Arise Anchors Of Pushing Peter Obi’s Narrative

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has defended the decision of Lere Olayinka, media aide to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, to decline a question from Arise News anchor Rufai Oseni during a live interview.

According to Bwala, Olayinka was justified in refusing to respond to Oseni and had effectively challenged the journalists over what he described as a lack of objectivity in their coverage of political issues.

The development followed a tense moment during an Arise News interview when Olayinka declined to answer a question from Oseni. He reportedly said he preferred not to respond to the anchor and questioned comments previously made about political figures.

Another anchor, Mario Esse, subsequently reminded Olayinka that the programme had three presenters and indicated that the interview could not continue if he refused to engage with Oseni.

The interview was eventually brought to an abrupt end, triggering reactions across social media and the political space.

Reacting to the incident, Bwala accused Oseni and Esse of allegedly promoting the political narrative of Peter Obi and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

He described the presenters as “Obidient anchors” and alleged that they had displayed double standards and a lack of objectivity in their approach to political discussions.

Bwala further praised Olayinka for refusing to participate on terms he considered unfair, saying the Wike aide had held the presenters accountable for their conduct during the interview.

He also warned that journalists should maintain objectivity and avoid what he described as blackmail when interviewing political actors.

The presidential aide’s comments have added another layer to the controversy surrounding the interview, with the episode generating debate over media objectivity, political bias and the conduct of live television interviews.

The claims made by Bwala about the political leanings of the anchors remain his assessment, while the disagreement has continued to attract reactions from supporters of different political camps.