…Dismisses hunger crisis as ‘old story’
Presidential aide, Daniel Bwala has sparked fresh controversy after suggesting that President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, has what it takes to challenge his father in the 2027 elections – while also dismissing growing complaints of hunger under the current administration as “nothing new”.
Speaking on a podcast, Bwala praised Seyi Tinubu’s humility and resilience, noting that the president’s son has avoided scandals and built alliances even with critics of the administration. He insisted that nothing prevents Seyi from contesting any office, including the presidency – even against his father.
“If Seyi Tinubu’s father is the president, what stops him from running for Lagos governor? Seyi can even challenge his father in the next election”, Bwala said, stressing that people should judge Seyi based on personal experience, not public opinion.
In a separate television interview, Bwala downplayed opposition leader Atiku Abubakar’s criticisms that hunger is worsening under Tinubu, arguing that Nigerians have faced hunger since independence.
“Nigerians were hungry in 1960, hungry in 1980, hungry in 1990, hungry in 1999. It was between 1999 and 2003 that somebody sang ‘Nigeria Jaga-Jaga’ – was he singing in abstract?” Bwala quipped.
He urged critics to judge the administration not by “rhetoric of hunger” but by reforms and policies being implemented.
His comments, however, run contrary to President Tinubu’s own admission that hunger has worsened since he took office, with inflation and food prices hitting record highs. Both the IMF and World Bank have also flagged rising poverty and food insecurity in Nigeria, warning that millions more could fall into extreme poverty by 2027.
