Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy and Communications, has harshly criticized Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South, labeling him a “pathological liar.”
Bwala made the remark during a recent appearance on Channels Television’s programme Sunday Politics, responding to allegations made by Ndume, who accused President Tinubu of nepotism.
Bwala questioned Ndume’s integrity and intentions, suggesting that a message can only be considered objectively when the person delivering it has honest motives.
He added that if the speaker has a hidden agenda, then both the message and the messenger must be scrutinized together.
He suggested that Ndume’s criticism of the president is tainted by personal interest and lacks sincerity.
Addressing the issue of insecurity in Borno State, Bwala praised the state’s governor for his ongoing efforts to combat the Boko Haram insurgency.
He emphasized that the governor has not accused the federal government of negligence but has instead issued a fair warning about a possible resurgence of insurgents.
Bwala stated that the Borno State governor is making genuine efforts to tackle insecurity and is a respectable leader.
He pointed out that the governor has not blamed the federal government but simply warned that Boko Haram could reemerge if preventive actions aren’t taken — a remark Bwala described as reasonable.
In a strong rebuttal of Ndume’s statements, Bwala categorically denied ever speaking ill of prominent Nigerian figures such as Wole Soyinka, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, or Bishop Matthew Kukah, accusing Ndume of fabricating lies.
“Ndume lied, I have never talked about Soyinka, Obasanjo, or Kukah. Ali Ndume, with respect, is a pathological liar. He loves lies, go to Borno State and ask the people of Borno State; he lies with his eyes open,” Bwala declared.
Bwala further accused Ndume of hypocrisy, alleging that while the senator publicly criticizes the government, he has privately secured advantageous appointments for his own children and close associates.
“He gets jobs for his children and very close people at the CBN, NNPC, and juicy places, but for the children of the poor, he sends them into the army,” Bwala said.
He also emphasized that freedom of speech must be exercised within legal boundaries, noting that there are several outspoken critics of the government who have not faced retaliation because they operate within the law.
He added that there are many outspoken critics of the government who have not been targeted or silenced, emphasizing that the right to free speech exists but must be exercised within the boundaries of the law.
Bwala’s statements underscore a broader political conflict within Nigeria’s ruling circles and reveal tensions between the Tinubu administration and some of its critics.
His comments paint a picture of a senator who, according to him, uses misinformation and manipulation for political gain, while protecting his own interests at the expense of the general populace.
