Mohammed Saidu Etsu, APC chieftain and former national chairman aspirant, has spoken out about his concerns over the recent appointment of Daniel Bwala as a presidential spokesperson.
Etsu, who said he has been a loyal party member, in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday criticised the decision, arguing that it undermines the office of the president. He pointed out that Bwala, who had previously insulted and criticised President Tinubu and his government, was now being rewarded with a key position.
“It’s not bad to have a presidential spokesperson or people speaking for the president of a country who has more than 200million of a population of citizens but to have people who have insulted or denigrated the office of the president and being appointed as a spokesperson is what I feel is an aberration on us as a party loyalist.”
Etsu expressed his bewilderment over Bwala’s attempts to secure a government role after publicly denigrating the administration, calling it “unfortunate” that someone who had previously insulted the president was now part of the media team. “And for Asiwaju to appoint Bwala into his media cycle, I don’t think he has done well for himself because people are looking at Bwala as someone that has said a lot of things of the president.”
He remarked that Bwala had “run helter-skelter” seeking a position in a government he had disparaged in the past. “Because I don’t understand the reason why he has been running helter-skelter to be in the government that he has denigrated and the government that he has called all sorts of names before he’s been appointed.”
He also criticised Bwala, especially after reports suggested he arrived at the presidential villa without having a brief from his principal. “And someone that rashly goes to the villa without having a brief from his principal to even assert himself as a spokesperson of the president, I think there is something into it.”
Etsu also expressed disappointment that those who had worked tirelessly for the party were being overlooked, while individuals who had been critical of the president were being rewarded. “It’s unfortunate we find ourselves in this situation and I think the president and the president handlers should adjust himself if not he is losing a lot compartments/co-party men in the history of this country we’ve not had a president that comes on this support or a compartment to support him because we have more than 2,000 support group across the country but today we find ourselves in this situation.”
He emphasised that no one joins politics for charity and stated that everyone one joins politics to either be rewarded by being appointed, have a contract, or influence in the system.
Furthermore, Etsu raised concerns about the strategic implications of appointing someone like Bwala, who had previously labelled the president with derogatory names stating that he doesn’t think it’s strategic for the president to appoint Bwala who had called the president “all sorts of names.”
“You can give him something different.” he further emphasised.
He expressed the frustration among other party members who felt sidelined, noting that many loyalists, including himself, had made significant sacrifices for the party, yet felt neglected by the current government. “When I contested for the national chairman of this party I worked on three thresholds- the internal party mechanisms, loyalty to the party, and reward system. And I know Asiwaju very well before he was elected as the president, he has been talking about people that has been working for the party should be rewarded but today it has turned something else.”
Etsu urged President Tinubu and his team to reassess their approach to appointments, warning that failing to recognise loyal party members could lead to further disillusionment within the APC ranks.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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