PeakNews Online
It was the long battle between Presidential spokesman on Media and publicity Mr, Bayo Onanuga that allegedly claimed the job of Special Adviser to the president on media and publicity, Ajuri Njelale, a key presidential source has revealed.
Ngelale, the broadcast journalist who became the presidential spokesman it was learnt, did not resign as special adviser to the president on media and publicity to tend to a “vexatious medical situation” in his family as he claimed, but was fired by the President.
As earlier reported by PeakNews Online, Ajuri Njelale had tendered his letter of resignation on Friday saying. “ I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing him of that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.
“While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonising decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.”
He said in the letter that, he looked “forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit”, and respectfully asked “for some privacy for my family and I [sic] during this time.”
However, sources at the Presidency who spoke on condition of anonymity told PeakNews Online that that Onanuga, despite being formally appointed in October 2023 had always had running battle with Njelale over hierarchy.
It was learnt that following the election of Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s president in 2023, Ngelale did not exactly have a smooth time with Onanuga, largely because was alleged to have been in government before Onanuga.
President Muhammadu Buhari had appointed Ngelale his senior special adviser on public affairs in 2019 and he served in this position until the end of Buhari’s tenure, hence he allegedly considered himself Onanuga’s boss.
Ngelale, 38, began his career with the Africa Independent Television (AIT) in the 2000s, while Onanuga, 67, a former Managing Director of the News Agency of NJigeria (NAN), began his career in the 1980s. There was one problem, though: while Ngelale was special adviser on media and publicity, Onanuga was the special adviser on information and strategy.
It was learnt that civil servants found the roles confusing, especially when there was nothing like that in the previous administration when Femi Adesina was the special adviser on media and publicity and Garba Shehu the senior special assistant on media publicity. In Mr Adesina’s case, the positions were properly spelt out
Ngelale and Onanuga both had special adviser roles; and the duties seemed similar. However, by design, the civil service structure of the villa reports to the SA media, and that was Ngelale.
It was learnt also that Onanuga “was a squatter in the presidency and did not have an office of his own until just a few months ago”, despite being formally appointed in October 2023.
It was learnt that villa staff and civil servants whose work related to the president’s communication strategy noticed the tension between Ngelale and Onanuga and thought if they worked with one, then the other thought they were against him.
“This meant the work of publicising the president’s progressive policies was derailed,” said the source.
Aso Rock sources said Ngelale instructed civil servants that no statement from Onanuga could go out if he had not personally cleared it. If you speak with sources across divides, they would tell you Onanuga was the more peace-seeking of the duo. But this particular order from Ngelale to civil servants annoyed Onanuga.”
PeakNews Online learnt Ngelale’s standing with Tinubu started to plummet once it was easy to pitch to the president how Ngelale’s unharmonious relationship not just with Onanuga but with the media was allegedly hindering good publicity for the president.
“He did not have a good relationship with journalists. Ask the reporters; ask the state house correspondents. And also ask editors,” added the source.
“Many people consider him disrespectful and arrogant, even the editors. You can hardly find any important editor in Nigeria who likes or regards Ngelale.”
President Bola Tinubu has received the memo from Ajuri Ngelale, his spokesman and Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, informing him of his resignation for personal and health reasons.
A statement on Saturday by the presidency said the President accepted Ngelale’s reasons for the resignation, fully understood them and sympathised with the circumstances that led to his decision.
While extending his prayers and best wishes to Ngelale and his family, the President hoped for a speedy recovery and full restoration to the health of the challenged members of his family.
He noted Ngelale’s efforts and dedication in serving the nation, and thanked him for his contributions, especially in advancing national discourse and leading efforts on climate action and other key initiatives.
“The President wishes him well in all his future endeavours.
“During this period, we kindly ask that the wish for privacy of Chief Ngelale and his family be respected,” said the statement.
