A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Solomon Bob, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Mr. Daniel Bwala, accusing him of misrepresenting facts and pushing what he described as a “maliciously distorted narrative” against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike.

Bob was reacting to comments credited to Bwala during a television programme on Friday, in which the presidential aide reportedly claimed that Wike had been “adequately compensated” and suggested that the former Rivers State governor was interfering in the administration of the current governor of the state.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the lawmaker described Bwala’s remarks as “cheeky, unwarranted and driven by premeditated bile,” insisting that they revealed a poor understanding of governance and the workings of the Tinubu administration.

“You could see that he deliberately pivoted from the question to talk about the Minister having been ‘adequately compensated,’ whatever that means,” Bob said. “That line of thinking leaves the impression that he sees public office as a gravy train, whereas public office is about service delivery, not compensation.”

Bob dismissed Bwala’s attempt to downplay Wike’s performance as FCT minister, arguing that the achievements recorded under his leadership were products of competence and innovation.

“He cheekily reduced the Minister’s widely acknowledged superlative performance in the FCT to merely exiting the TSA,” Bob stated. “Exiting the TSA itself was the Minister’s ingenious idea, and the President’s acceptance of that proposal underscores his confidence in Wike’s ability to deliver. That confidence is rooted in his track record as Rivers governor, for which even former President Muhammadu Buhari honoured him.”

The lawmaker also faulted Bwala for allegedly implying that Wike was obstructing Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, from governing, describing the claim as reckless and unfounded.

“By that implication, Mr. Bwala demonstrated a clear lack of judgment,” he said. “It is classic implication framing from someone who dabbles into issues far beyond his competence and job description.”

Chairman of the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, Bob further accused the presidential aide of personalising official communication and attributing his personal sentiments to the President.

“He denigrates his office by infusing his own biases into public commentary and passing them off as the President’s position,” Bob said. “He was not speaking for the President, who knows where responsibility for the Rivers situation lies. Mr. Bwala does not speak for the President; that is not his remit, and he is far down the pecking order of presidential spokesmen.”

Bob, who represents Abua/Odual and Ahoada East Federal Constituency of Rivers State, suggested that Bwala’s comments may be influenced by lingering resentment over the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

“Perhaps he is still nursing bitterness over Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s defeat,” he said. “He spoke out of turn because Minister Wike politically outmanoeuvred Atiku, who was his principal before he jumped ship.”

He advised the presidential aide to exercise restraint and humility, warning that public communication from the Presidency should reflect discipline, objectivity and respect for institutional boundaries.

“Mr. Bwala should know his level and be grateful for the opportunity he has,” Bob added, “because despite his pretensions, he has not convinced many that he possesses the capacity required for that role.”

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, former legislators, under the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term. They believe that his leadership should continue for another four years to complete a full southern presidency.

The endorsement came during a one-day summit in Abuja, themed ‘National Unity and Nation Building.’

The forum, consisting of former Senators, House members, State Assembly representatives, and local government councillors, also passed a vote of confidence in Tinubu’s administration. They adopted him as their sole candidate for the 2027 elections.

The summit, convened by former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, also saw the NFFL call for a constitutional amendment to enshrine rotational presidency between the North and South. The forum emphasized that the presidency should return to the Northern region in 2031 after the completion of President Tinubu’s term, to promote national unity and equity. This call was backed by a resolution that affirmed the importance of constitutional support for rotational presidency to reduce political tensions and foster trust between the regions.

While the summit was attended by several prominent figures, notable absentees included former Senate Presidents David Mark and Bukola Saraki, as well as former Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. These leaders, aligned with other political parties like the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), chose not to participate in the event.

Despite their absence, the NFFL’s communique strongly advocated for unity and stability, urging that no personal ambition should undermine the country’s hard-won balance.

Femi Gbajabiamila, speaking at the summit, stressed the need for national unity, emphasizing that it is essential for Nigeria to move forward in shaping the new world order. He praised Tinubu’s leadership, highlighting his commitment to inclusion, fairness, and the strength of Nigeria’s diversity. Gbajabiamila noted that achieving unity is a shared responsibility among all political actors, whose actions shape public discourse and foster cooperation across ethnic and regional divides.

The former Speaker also underscored that the principle of rotational presidency was a product of wisdom from earlier leaders, not weakness. He argued that the arrangement was designed to ease tensions and manage Nigeria’s diversity. Gbajabiamila warned against those seeking to undermine this understanding for short-term political gain, stating that national stability should take precedence over individual political aspirations.

Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who also attended the summit, emphasized the importance of experienced voices in Nigeria’s governance. He acknowledged the challenges faced by the country but noted that former lawmakers’ perspectives are crucial in navigating issues such as national cohesion and economic reform. Barau assured the NFFL that the National Assembly remains open to collaboration, stressing that patriotism is a lifelong duty, beyond the duration of any political tenure.