Daniel Bwala, a media aide to President Bola Tinubu, says his principal is “physically fitter than most leaders in advanced countries”.
Speaking in an interview with DW Africa, Bwala addressed questions surrounding Tinubu’s frequent medical trips abroad and recent endorsements ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“In fact, the president of Nigeria physically is fitter than most presidents in the advanced countries,” he said.
Responding to whether the early endorsements were a strategy to consolidate power, Bwala said the process was in line with the All Progressives Congress (APC) internal tradition.
“It’s a procedure or a process with our party that there will be mid-term assessment,” he said.
“So. it’s not President Bola. Whoever is the president at the time, after every mid-term, we will assess and see whether the president has performed to a point where we would entrust the person to continue.”
He said Tinubu had passed that assessment with distinction.
“We have measured that he has performed wonderfully well,” Bwala said.
“And so we are absolutely confident ahead of 2027 that we have the support of our people.”
Asked to name specific achievements of the Tinubu administration, Bwala listed local government autonomy as a major milestone.
“Deepening democracy is one, which is the introduction of local government autonomy,” he said.
“Autonomy that gives the local government chairmen or administrators the enormous resources.
“State governments now are able to recruit vigilantes.
“They are able to buy vehicles and equipment that is necessary for surveillance and intelligence gathering, and then law enforcement.”
He added that Tinubu’s administration had improved healthcare and food access for ordinary Nigerians.
“We also provided dispensaries, for example, free caesarean section for mothers who are having trouble giving birth,” he said.
“We also have a rice policy that has made rice available to Nigerians across all levels.”
“There are subsidies also on certain prescription drugs for the people at the local level. And people are able to access that.
“We’ve been able to register, I think, close to 10 million Nigerians in the national healthcare.”
