Leaders of the Southern Borno Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have criticized Daniel Bwala, labelling him as “an inconsistent fellow without honour.”
The criticism follows Bwala’s recent verbal attacks on Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who was recently removed from his position as Chief Whip of the Senate.
At a press conference in Abuja, Baba Ahmed Mustapha, spokesperson for the APC leaders, defended Ndume and condemned Bwala’s comments.
Mustapha described Bwala as politically unreliable, noting his past criticisms of President Bola Tinubu and his fluctuating political positions.
According to Mustapha, Ndume’s decision to address the economic challenges facing Nigerians was a reflection of his commitment to public welfare and not an act of dissent. He argued that Ndume’s advocacy for the people should be supported rather than criticized.
His words: “We appreciate and respect Daniel Bwala’s right to express his opinion on any issue as guaranteed by the Constitution just as the Senator when he knew that the observations made are within the bounds of the Constitution.
“As a learned lawyer, he knew that the provision of section 39 which guarantees the freedom of expression is applicable to all citizens. We make no excuses for the Senator. As a being, he has deficiencies. As a politician, he may not have lived up to people expectations. But we are proud that he has stood up to be counted when it matters most.
“He refused to behave like the ostrich, who, seeing the approaching the storm, buries it’s head in the sand. His statement was made within the context of a call for a proactive action by the government rather than an instigation against it.
“He would have kept silent and enjoy the privileges bestowed by his office has he wished. But as a politician to whom the welfare of the people is always of uttermost concern, and conscious of the burden imposed on him by history, he never forgot the words of Frantz Fanon, the Algerian Revolutionary who said, ‘the future will no pity for those who, possessing the exceptional privilege of being able to speak words of truth have taken refuge in an attitude of indifference and sometimes cold complicity.’
“Daniel Bwala has taken upon responsibility of denigrating the senator and accusing of not living up to the expectations of his constituents including grandstanding, we can present no better and stronger proof other than his consistent elections as a member of House of Representatives and later on as a senator since 2003.
“The senator has empowered many constituents but as a person not being given to public and private display of generosity, the impacts of his empowerment programmes has been manifested in his consistent reelection.
“There can be no better testimony than this. If Daniel Bwala feels otherwise, he is free to brave the field. After all, 2027 is not far. In all decent societies, consistency is always an attribute of “Men of Honour” who stood by what they and what they do. But can the accuser fit bill?
“It is not only amazing but baffling that Bwala who established a reputation for pouring scorn on President Tinubu is trying to be his ardent defender.”
They wondered why Bwala who once accused President Tinubu of ruling “with a stolen mandate and (that) the Gods of the land are against his leadership’.
“It has not been forgotten that immediately after the primaries of the All Progressive Party (APC) at which President Tinubu emerged as the Presidential candidate of the Party and picked Sen. Kashim Shettima as his running mate, Daniel Bwala reacted by quitting the party despite the fact that Kashim is proudly from Borno.”
