PDP chieftain Showunmi criticises Al Jazeera over ‘hostile’ interview with Tinubu aide

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Showunmi, has criticised Al Jazeera journalist Mehdi Hasan over what he described as a hostile and unprofessional interview with Presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala.

In a post on X on Sunday, Showunmi argued that Hasan’s approach during the Head to Head programme crossed the line from tough journalism into personal attacks.

“Hostility is not journalism. There is a clear difference between tough journalism and outright hostility. One serves the public interest. The other serves the ego of the interviewer,” he wrote.

The interview, which aired on Al Jazeera, featured Bwala — the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication — responding to questions on Nigeria’s security challenges, corruption concerns, and his past criticisms of President Tinubu before joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Showunmi described the exchange as a “public ambush,” alleging that Bwala’s responses were repeatedly interrupted while questions were framed in a confrontational manner.

“When the pursuit of humiliation replaces the pursuit of insight, journalism loses its credibility,” he said.

He also defended Bwala’s earlier criticisms of Tinubu before his 2023 defection from the PDP to the APC, noting that political realignments are common in democratic politics.

“Former opponents become partners when national circumstances demand cooperation. This is neither shocking nor dishonourable; it is one of the defining characteristics of democratic political life,” he said.

During the interview, Hasan confronted Bwala with past statements in which he had criticised Tinubu, including remarks describing the president as corrupt and unfit to lead.

When Bwala denied making some of the comments, Hasan played video clips of the statements, prompting widespread reactions online.

The host also pressed Bwala on Nigeria’s security situation, citing reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, while critics said the presidential aide struggled to counter the figures with official data.

Bwala later dismissed the backlash that followed the interview as politically motivated, insisting he had no regrets defending the administration.

Showunmi said the interview could have focused more on Nigeria’s pressing challenges, including economic reforms, insecurity and governance issues.

“Respectful engagement does not weaken journalism; it strengthens it. Firm questioning does not require contempt,” he added.