I find it rather surprising that some Nigerians are losing sleep over the recent interview granted by presidential aide Daniel Bwala on Al Jazeera.
To those familiar with his public record, there was nothing particularly shocking about the performance.
Bwala merely confirmed what many already know about his style of politics — one that critics often describe as marked by sharp rhetoric and a reputation for shifting loyalties.
If anything, the interview only introduced him to a wider audience that may not have previously followed his political trajectory.
The truth is that in Nigeria’s political environment, loyalty can be fluid. If tomorrow the political winds change, few would be surprised to see figures like Bwala align themselves with another camp. Our political history is filled with such examples.
The more fundamental question, however, is not about Bwala alone but about the system that continually rewards this kind of politics. Those who appoint advisers are usually well aware of their records and reputations.
Nigeria is not short of men and women of integrity who could serve in government. Yet the choices leaders make about the people they surround themselves with often reflect their own values and priorities.
As the popular saying goes: show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.
In the end, Bwala is not an isolated phenomenon. He is simply one example of a broader political culture in which many actors operate according to opportunity rather than principle.
