Arise TV host Ayo Mario-Ese has responded to Daniel Bwala’s criticism of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

During the What’s Trending segment of The Morning Show on Friday, February 6, the journalist reminded the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication that he was once critical of President Bola Tinubu in the lead-up to the 2023 elections.

She added that she enjoys when party stalwarts clash, as it provides an opportunity for them to expose secrets that would otherwise remain hidden from Nigerians.

“For me, as a bystander and an onlooker, the advantage I see here is that people now have access to previously undisclosed information. That is why I like it when these political heavyweights go against each other—they begin to reveal what we don’t know.”

"Bwala himself—was he not the one who was critical of President Tinubu and a spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar during the elections? Now, all of a sudden, he has become the President’s biggest fan. We don’t forget!" she said.

Recall that Bwala, in an interview on TVC, stated that El-Rufai lacks the political influence to unsettle President Bola Tinubu.

Bwala and El-Rufai have been exchanging words over the latter’s criticism of the incumbent administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alleged that the APC was “straying away from its core values” and claimed he no longer recognized the party.

Meanwhile, Bwala questioned whether El-Rufai’s stance on the APC would have been different if he had been appointed to the current federal cabinet.

In response, El-Rufai insisted he would not hesitate to criticize the party even if he were part of the Tinubu administration.

The spokesman affirmed that the President is unbothered by the opposition's activities and added that his principal's disposition has always been conciliatory.

“Who is jittery? The political opponents have no direction. There is no organised political party in Nigeria other than APC. Almost all opposition parties are trying to find their way.

“I don’t attack because I see that the position of Mr President is that of reconciliation. In his 18 months in office, he has never reacted to anybody. He has never been seen being combative or aggressive against anybody,” Bwala said.

The lawyer claimed that he understands the former FCT minister's dilemma, saying that El-Rufai can't achieve his mission by joining the opposition alliance.

According to the presidential aide, El-Rufai only transforms into a political heavyweight when he aligns with a “solid revolutionary” leader.

“El-Rufai, as he said, is still in APC. You treat him like a brother. I know his grandstanding. I know he is having some trouble finding a path.

“If you leave a governing party, which you have influence, and think that you can undertake a mission, you have to have a place that is working to do that.

“He does not have the capacity to make the president unsettled. No opposition party, even if combined, can make the president unsettled.

“Let me tell you something about my elder brother, el-Rufai, and whether we should be worried.

“There is a dynamic around el-Rufai. El-Rufai needed a solid, revolutionary person to thrive. On his own, el-Rufai may not win the senate.

“He won governorship because of the Buhari factor and got re-elected because of the Buhari factor. If you leave him now to go and run for senate in Kaduna, he would not win,” he said.