"Presidency Reveals: More Than 70% of Tinubu's Advisors Once Opposed Him"

Table of Contents

1. Disclosure about Supporters
2. Reaction to Ambassadorial List Claims
3. Presidency's Posture
4. Political Discretion
5. Tinubu's History
6. Personal Encounter with Tinubu
7. Influence of Tinubu's Mother

President Bola Tinubu’s Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, revealed on Thursday that approximately 70 percent of those currently supporting the President had previously opposed him.

Bwala responded to assertions that certain individuals should be excluded from the ambassadorial list due to their past criticism and opposition to Tinubu.

During an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Bwala recounted how Tinubu once told him that his mother taught him the importance of accepting people who may have been against him.

He stated: “Our stance from the Presidency is to remain silent until the National Assembly completes the confirmation process. We believe that actively engaging in this matter could unfairly influence the National Assembly’s decisions, as allowing the process to unfold naturally will lead to their confirmation as ambassadors.”

“If this decision stems from the President's political strategy, those familiar with politics understand that the political landscape can be challenging. It is up to individuals in political roles to use their discretion and decide whether to appoint someone who has previously opposed them or to refrain from working with such individuals.”

“Reflecting on Tinubu's history, I can confidently assert that over 70 percent of the people around him have, at some point, worked against him.”

“When I first met him on January 10 of last year, I immediately felt the need to apologize because he had been trying to reach me, and I had been avoiding him. I felt conflicted about declining his request. He told me, ‘You don’t need to apologize. If you had listened to me, you would have realized that what you feared regarding the Muslim-Muslim ticket was unfounded.’”

“Regarding those who have opposed him, he explicitly shared with me about individuals who had previously collaborated with him, emphasizing the influence of his mother in this regard. As the leader of market women, she taught him that if one allows anger towards those who have wronged them to dominate their thoughts, they may wake up one day to find there is no one left to lead.”

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