Presidential spokesperson on policy communication, Daniel Bwala, has accused Al Jazeera of selectively editing his recent interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, claiming the cuts created a misleading narrative that fueled criticism online.
The interview, part of the “Head to Head with Daniel Bwala” series, circulated widely on social media and drew backlash from some Nigerians who described Bwala’s responses as embarrassing.
Speaking during a discussion with On-Air Personality Daddy Freeze, Bwala insisted that the version released online did not accurately reflect the full conversation.
“There is a fact that was incorrectly portrayed and has formed the basis of many opinions online, which was unfortunately pushed by Al Jazeera. I asked them to put the record straight,” he said.
According to Bwala, the interview was recorded on February 11, 2026, and was originally scheduled to last one hour and 20 minutes.
“The interview was conducted properly. Questions were asked, and I answered them. I didn’t deny anything,” he said.
However, he claimed that when the network uploaded the interview online on March 5, only 49 minutes of the conversation were included, leaving out nearly 20 minutes of footage. Bwala also said a shorter eight-minute clip later circulated online, which he argued further altered the context of his responses.
“That version joined and cut parts of the interview in a way that emphasized certain points while leaving out crucial context,” he said.
Bwala stated that the network had earlier informed him that the full interview would be aired on television before being uploaded online, but that plan was reportedly affected by major global news events.
“Their excuse was that trending matters around Israel, Iran, and the US affected the airing. But even so, they went ahead and uploaded the edited version on YouTube,” he said.
The presidential spokesman stressed the importance of releasing the complete interview, warning that selective editing could create misunderstandings about his remarks.
“It’s very important that they publish the full video,” he added.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
No comments:
Post a Comment