'Shettima Used to Be Citizen Reporter for SaharaReporters; Bwala Is Not a Good Liar' — Sowore Reveals Past Relationship with Vice President, Mocks Tinubu's Aide

Human rights activist and publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, has revealed that Nigeria's Vice President, Kashim Shettima, once served as a "citizen reporter" for SaharaReporters during Shettima's tenure as governor of Borno State.

Sowore made the revelation during an interview on the PAP programme, where he also accused Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, describing him as "an aspiring propagandist" and "not even a good liar."

Speaking during the interview, Sowore recounted how Shettima regularly provided him with first-hand information on developments in Borno State at the height of the Boko Haram insurgency.

When asked about his relationship with Vice President Shettima, Sowore said he had only met him "once or twice by accident," before disclosing what he described as a revelation.

"I met him once or twice by accident, but here is a revelation that I'll give you. Shettima used to be a reporter for me," Sowore said.

Asked when that happened, he explained that it was while Shettima was serving as governor of Borno State.

"When? When he was a governor, as he was a citizen reporter for me. What do I mean? If there's a Boko Haram breaking story, I'll call him. He was governor."

According to Sowore, Shettima would respond to his calls and provide accurate updates on security developments in the state.

"Shetima will answer. He'll tell you exactly what happened. When the Chibok girls were released, and I was looking for pictures, I got it from Shettima."

Clarifying his remarks, Sowore stressed that Shettima was never an employee of SaharaReporters but functioned as a reliable source of information.

"He's Kashim Shettima, when he was governor of Borno State. Well, I call him a reporter, not because I pay him, but I could call him the same way I could any reporter that I was working with. People will call citizen reporters, and he will answer and give you accurate information about what is happening."

Despite the past relationship, Sowore said they no longer have any relationship, insisting that this has never stopped him from criticizing the vice president.

"I don't have a relationship with him now. It's not the reason I don't criticize him."

However, he dismissed Shettima's relevance in Nigeria's current political landscape, saying the vice president plays no significant role in the affairs of the country.

"Shetima, in the scheme of things, don't even feature. You can't even call him a spare tire."

Questioning the vice president's role, Sowore added, "What does Shettima do? I don't know."

He explained that he chooses whom to respond to based on current national issues and public statements.

"But you see, I will respond to state of the nation based on activities. Yesterday I spoke about, or the day before yesterday, I spoke about Bwala, because he's saying things I need to respond to. I spoke about other people."

"I don't speak about Shettima because I don't even think Shettima exists. I'm sorry to say. Even in the political calculation, I just don't see him."

"He's a person of particular concern that you may decide to call a PC."

Turning his attention to Daniel Bwala, Sowore accused the presidential aide of desperately trying to establish himself as one of the government's leading defenders.

"Daniel Bwala is an aspiring propagandist," he said.

"You know, like a propagandist don't need to work that hard."

Sowore argued that seasoned propagandists are convincing enough that people often cannot detect when they are lying.

"Propagandists, you know, just come. You know, you've heard about many propagandists in the world."

"They just come. They are built to lie. And you can't even tell when they're lying."

Mocking Bwala, Sowore likened him to the online shopping platform Temu, suggesting he delivers something different from what people expect.

"Bwala is like a Temu propagandist. You know, that website they call Temu, where you order for something and they give you something different. That's what he's trying very hard to be — a propagandist."

According to Sowore, Bwala appears eager to become a government spokesman in the mould of presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga or former presidential aide Reno Omokri.

"And I think it's because he's not that. He's just trying to be, because he wants to be seen to be the Bayo Onanuga of this world, the Reno Omokri of this world. And as a result, he's just completely become a jerk."

Sowore further questioned Bwala's credibility, saying he lacked even the ability to lie convincingly.

"He's not even a good liar. That's why I say he's a tame liar."

"I'm questioning his ability to tell a straight lie. Because otherwise he would not have been a mess that he is now."

Responding to a question about Bwala's recent interview with Al Jazeera, Sowore said he watched the interview and criticised Bwala's reported decision to sue the interviewer.

"I did. And for him to go back and sue Al Jazeera interviewer, that shows he doesn't even know how to lie."

"You see, great liars will never sue their interviewers."

"I think he did such a terrible job, even his employers felt uncomfortable, that they probably told him, 'Oh, you're such a disappointment.' So to redeem himself, he had to do something about it."

Sowore also questioned the level of access presidential advisers have to President Bola Tinubu, claiming many of them rarely interact directly with the president.

"I don't even think these guys meet Tinubu. Most of these special advisers, they don't have a pass to enter the Villa."

"They will invite them if the president is outside, you know, he wants to bring them in."

"They are managed by third parties."

According to him, political appointments as advisers in Nigeria are largely ceremonial rather than functional.

"Because you see, when somebody's in Nigeria, when the governor or president appoints you as an adviser, it's because he doesn't want you to advise him."

"It's giving you a job."

"And if you're an adviser, you go advise the president, you will lose your job."

"It is actually the president that advises them on what to do."

Sowore concluded by defining what he believes an adviser should be.

"An adviser is a person who can look at his employer and say, 'What you're doing is wrong. We advise you to do something different.'"

"But they get advice from the mad people running the country."

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