Hostility is not journalism, Showunmi tells Mehdi Hassan

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has criticised broadcaster Mehdi Hasan over his recent interview with presidential spokesperson, Daniel Bwala, describing the exchange as hostile rather than professional journalism.

Showunmi said the interview crossed the line between tough questioning and outright hostility, arguing that what viewers witnessed was “an attempted public ambush” rather than a serious engagement.

In a statement, Showunmi said, “There is a clear difference between tough journalism and outright hostility. One serves the public interest. The other serves the ego of the interviewer.”

He added, “Unfortunately, the recent exchange between Mehdi Hasan and presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala fell squarely into the latter category.”

According to him, the tone of the interview from the beginning was aggressively confrontational and appeared designed to embarrass the guest rather than inform the public.

“From the outset, the tone was aggressively confrontational. Questions were framed less as inquiries into governance and more as prosecutorial traps. Responses were repeatedly interrupted before they could develop. Clarifications were brushed aside,” he said.

Showunmi stated that the atmosphere of the interview made it clear that it was not designed as a genuine conversation.

“The atmosphere was unmistakable: this was not a conversation designed to inform viewers but a spectacle designed to embarrass the guest,” he added.

He stressed that serious journalism requires discipline and balance, noting that difficult questions should still allow interviewees the opportunity to provide clear answers.

“The craft of interviewing demands discipline. It requires the ability to ask difficult questions while still allowing the guest to articulate answers. It requires intellectual confidence strong enough to permit disagreement without descending into open hostility,” he said.

Showunmi further argued that the interview missed an opportunity to interrogate the Nigerian government on key national issues.

“Nigeria is currently grappling with a range of serious national challenges — economic restructuring, security threats, governance reforms, and the complex work of stabilising a large and dynamic democracy,” he said.

“A responsible interviewer would have used the opportunity to interrogate the administration’s policies on these matters: What strategies are being deployed? What reforms are underway? What outcomes should citizens expect?” he added.

He maintained that the programme instead focused on “selective outrage and repetitive interruption.”

“Instead, viewers were treated to an exercise in selective outrage and repetitive interruption,” he said.

Showunmi also faulted what he described as insinuations in the interview that political realignment was illegitimate.

“Democratic politics is built on shifting alliances. Individuals and movements evolve. Former opponents become partners when national circumstances demand cooperation,” he said.

“This is neither shocking nor dishonourable; it is one of the defining characteristics of democratic political life.”

He warned that journalism risks losing credibility when interviewers resort to ridicule or humiliation.

“A journalist who openly ridicules or repeatedly attempts to humiliate a guest crosses an important professional boundary.

“The role of the interviewer is to hold power accountable, not to behave like a courtroom prosecutor seeking a viral ‘gotcha’ moment," he said.

Showunmi added that audiences deserved interviews that focused on policy and governance rather than spectacle.

“They deserve interviews that illuminate policy, probe governance, and help citizens understand how leaders intend to confront the pressing challenges of the day.

“What they do not need is a theatrical performance in which hostility is mistaken for intellectual rigour.” he stated.

Showunmi faults presidential spokesperson Bwala over Mehdi Hassan interview

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has criticised the recent interview performance of presidential spokesperson, Daniel Bwala, during an appearance with British journalist Mehdi Hassan, saying it highlighted the importance of professionalism and preparation in government communication.

Showunmi, in a commentary titled 'When Spokespersons Falter: Lessons in Strategic Communication', argued that public communication at the highest levels of government requires discipline, strategic thinking and extensive preparation.

According to him, the role of a spokesperson is one of the most demanding assignments in political leadership because it lies at the intersection of policy, perception and national reputation.

He said, “Public communication at the highest levels of government is not a casual undertaking. The role of a spokesperson is one of the most demanding assignments in political leadership because it sits at the intersection of policy, perception, and national reputation.”

The PDP chieftain noted that every word, tone, gesture and response from a government spokesperson contributes to how both domestic and international audiences judge an administration.

“Every word, tone, gesture, and response becomes part of the narrative through which both domestic and international audiences judge a government,” he said.

Showunmi added that facing experienced international interviewers such as Hassan requires more than political loyalty, stressing that such engagements are high-stakes exercises in narrative management.

“Confronting seasoned international interviewers such as Mehdi Hassan is not merely a media appearance; it is a high-stakes exercise in narrative management,” he said.

He further stated that effective spokespersons are rarely accidental performers, explaining that expertise in political communication is often built through years of experience in campaign messaging, media briefings, crisis communication and policy translation.

Showunmi referenced the widely discussed “10,000-hour rule”, popularised by author Malcolm Gladwell, to illustrate the level of practice required to achieve mastery in complex professions.

“The difference between seasoned communicators and inexperienced voices becomes evident under pressure,” he said.

According to him, professional spokespersons understand how to manage hostile questions without appearing evasive and often rely on structured communication frameworks that keep discussions anchored to the principal’s key policy messages.

He said the interview process should never revolve around the spokesperson personally but rather focus on defending and explaining the policies of the leader or institution they represent.

“The interview is never about the spokesperson. It is about defending, explaining, and contextualising the decisions of the leader or institution they represent,” Showunmi added.

He also stressed the importance of message discipline, warning that spokespersons should resist the temptation to make statements aimed at pleasing narrow political audiences.

“The true target is the broad middle: undecided citizens, neutral observers, and international audiences whose perceptions influence the credibility of a government,” he said.

Showunmi further emphasised the need for situational awareness in media engagements, noting that spokespersons must understand the style of interview platforms, the methods of interviewers and the expectations of their audiences.

Preparation, he said, should include anticipating potential lines of questioning and crafting responses that maintain composure while advancing the government’s narrative.

He also highlighted the role of non-verbal communication, saying tone of voice, cadence, posture and gestures contribute significantly to how audiences perceive credibility.

For governments, Showunmi said the lesson from such interviews is institutional rather than personal, calling for greater investment in professional communication training.

“Strategic communication should be treated as a professional discipline requiring training, mentorship, and continuous preparation,” he said.

He noted that many successful administrations invest in communication war rooms, message simulation exercises and spokesperson coaching to prepare their representatives for difficult interviews.

“In an era where a single media appearance can circulate globally within minutes, spokesperson performance is no longer a minor detail of governance. It is part of statecraft,” he said.

Showunmi added that Nigeria would benefit from deeper investment in professional communication training for officials tasked with representing public institutions.

“Competence in this field is rarely a matter of instinct. It is the result of preparation, experience, and respect for the demanding craft of strategic communication,” he stated.