Atiku camp slams Bwala, reaffirms national rescue agenda

The Media Office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a strongly worded rebuttal to recent remarks made by Mr. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing his comments as “disparaging, sanctimonious, and politically opportunistic.”

Bwala, a former spokesperson for Atiku’s 2023 presidential campaign, made statements during a recent interview on TVC, in which he appeared to question Atiku’s political relevance and legacy.

His comments, however, have drawn sharp criticism from the Atiku Media Office, which described them as a betrayal laced with “bitterness and duplicity.”

In a statement released Tuesday, the Media Office expressed deep dismay over what it termed Bwala’s “sanctimonious pontificating,” asserting that his newfound rhetoric reflects an attempt to ingratiate himself with an embattled administration struggling to contain growing national dissatisfaction.

“His sanctimonious pontificating, laced with bitterness and duplicity, betrays a desperate effort to curry favour with a floundering administration clearly shaken by the unstoppable momentum of the national coalition being galvanized by Atiku and other progressive leaders,” the statement read.

Dismissing Bwala as a “political turncoat,” the Media Office declared that Atiku Abubakar neither seeks nor requires validation from individuals who abandon their principles for political expediency.

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“Mr. Bwala’s current relevance, if any, is owed entirely to the platform he once occupied under Atiku’s leadership — a fact that should breed humility, not arrogance,” the statement added.

The Media Office further accused the Tinubu administration of being obsessed with Atiku’s political future, pointing to the consistent targeting of the former Vice President by officials within the presidency.

“If, as they claim, Atiku is a spent force, why the relentless smear campaign? Why the strategic allocation of presidential platforms to attack him?” the statement queried.

It continued: “The answer is plain: Atiku Abubakar remains the single most formidable opposition figure in Nigeria, and the coalition he is forging represents a clear and present danger to the decaying edifice of the ruling party.”

According to the Atiku camp, the broad-based political alliance currently being spearheaded by the former Vice President is aimed at reclaiming Nigeria from “economic collapse, institutional failure, and democratic erosion.” This, they said, has visibly unsettled the ruling elite.

The statement also defended Atiku’s democratic legacy, stating that his contributions since 1999 in the areas of reform, restructuring, and electoral integrity remain unmatched. “Legacy is not defined by the trappings of office but by courage, consistency, and conviction,” it said.

“Atiku Abubakar’s legacy — as a unifier, builder, and patriot — is deeply etched in the consciousness of millions of Nigerians. It is impervious to the revisionist bile of yesterday’s defectors turned today’s defenders of dysfunction.”

“He will not be distracted by political jesters masquerading as patriots. The rescue and rebuilding of Nigeria is a task of urgent national importance — far too important to be derailed by the petty ego trips of desperate presidential aides,” the statement declared.