What Tinubu told me about his mother’s influence on appointment choices — Daniel Bwala

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, has revealed what the President told him on his (Tinubu) mother’s teachings guide his choice of appointments as President, includng those who previously opposed him.

Bwala shared this while addressing concerns that some individuals on the ambassadorial list had earlier criticised or worked against Tinubu.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday, he explained that Tinubu’s approach to political relationships is rooted in lessons from his mother, who encouraged forgiveness and openness.

He said, “The President said, ‘As the head of the market women, she taught him that if you are going to be angry with people just because they offended you, you will wake up one morning and find that there are no people left for you to lead.’”

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Bwala added that politics is often tense, and leaders must decide whether to embrace or exclude those who oppose them. According to him, Tinubu has a long history of welcoming such individuals.

He continued, “If it is because of the political decision of the President… more than 70 per cent of people with him have worked against him in the past at some point.”

Bwala also recounted his first meeting with Tinubu on January 10 last year, during which Tinubu addressed his earlier worries even though he had planned to apologise to the president.

“When I first met him on the 10th of January last year, as soon as I walked in, I was trying to apologise because he had been trying to get in touch with me, and I was avoiding him, as I could not tell an elder no, since my mind was made up. Tinubu said, ‘You do not even have to go to that extent because if you had listened to me, what you thought was your fear, you do not have to associate it with me: the Muslim–Muslim ticket.’

Meanwhile, Tribune Online previously reported that Tinubu sent 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, after an initial list of three names. The nominees include former INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu; Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and others.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE