Former presidential candidate and economist Kingsley Moghalu has strongly criticized Daniel Bwala’s recent interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head program, describing it as a damaging moment for Nigeria on the global stage.
In a statement shared publicly, Moghalu argued that the interview exposed Nigeria’s leadership to “fact-based shredding” before an international audience, creating what he described as an embarrassing spectacle for the country. The program, which features a live global audience questioning political figures, amplified the impact of the exchange, he said.
According to Moghalu, the appearance reflected deeper problems in Nigeria’s political culture, including a lack of ideology, policy consistency, and principled leadership. He criticized what he called widespread political opportunism and “turn-coatism,” where politicians switch allegiances primarily for political advantage.
Moghalu also questioned why individuals who previously criticized President Bola Tinubu are later appointed as government spokespersons or representatives after defecting politically. He argued that such figures often carry “political baggage” that undermines their credibility when representing the administration.
Using Bwala as an example, Moghalu said the spokesperson struggled to defend the government during the interview while also facing scrutiny over past criticisms of the same leadership.
He further claimed that Nigeria’s political appointment process prioritizes loyalty over competence, allowing mediocrity to dominate key communication roles within government.
Moghalu said Nigeria’s government could appoint more credible and consistent representatives who can defend its policies without the burden of past contradictory statements. In his view, this would allow discussions about the government’s performance to focus on governance rather than on the spokesperson’s previous political positions.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria deputy governor also said he had received calls from friends in several countries expressing shock at the interview and sympathy for Nigeria’s situation.
