Daniel Bwala, a former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign, claimed that calls for the next nationwide protest against the rapidly rising cost of living may be being fueled by foreign forces.
“Because of the hunger and suffering, there would have been foreign interests taking advantage of the poor political climate,” Bwala said to State House media after his meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
Referencing the planned protest to international politics, Bwala said, “I honestly believe that there is, to a large extent, the element of politics. And my belief that it even transcends the country.” His remarks came in response to calls for nationwide protests against the severe economic hardship from August 1–10.
“We know that everybody in Nigeria acknowledges that there is suffering and the suffering did not start last year.
“We’ve been dealing with this issue of suffering and lack of employment. We’re talking about entrepreneurship. That is virtually every aspect of the economy and security. We have always been pushing the envelope to see how we can attain a better place,”
The former PDP presidential campaign spokesperson was concerned that despite the president’s efforts, some parties were threatening to “bring down the government.
Bwala further said, “But suddenly if you see the conversation on mainstream and social media, the conversation is all about bringing the government down. They say President Bola Tinubu must resign.
“Once you hear that kind of talk and language, then you don’t need somebody to interpret that there is a political connotation.
“You must be aware that people have been holding meetings saying they want to unseat the President. By our constitution, he has four years and it’s renewable for another term of four years and he’s doing everything possible in these four years to deliver on the promise to the Nigerian people.”
Bwala maintained that governments new policies are aimed at pushing the country to a better state in the near future.
He said, “The data is coming in and some of the indices show that there is a redirection going on.
“No reform is easy. Go to Brazil or any part of the world. If you’re going to do reform, it is not going to be easy. It means that all of us will have to readjust. But the government’s role, when initiating reforms is to bring about intervention; which is what the President is doing—interventions like the release of truckloads of food and then giving monies. Also, remember the increased allocation to the governors?
“He even committed to helping the organised private sector to meet up with the minimum wage.”
The former PDP Chieftain stated following a meeting with the President in January 2024 that he is dedicated to backing the administration, even if it means leaving the party and joining the All Progressives Congress.
Bwala, who claimed to be in support of the president, restated his intention to join the governing party.
