The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has proceeded on an indefinite leave of absence.
While Ngilale may have been forced to resign his position, he blamed it on health issues.
The former media aide who also served with former President Muhammadu Buhari never showed any sign of ailment until his sudden resignation.
TheHintsNews reports that Ngelale’s trouble started in May when he overruled a statement issued by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Onanuga had released a statement announcing that President Bola Tinubu would address a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday to commemorate his first anniversary in office and 25 years of Nigeria’s democratic journey.“
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not make a broadcast to the nation on Wednesday to celebrate his first anniversary as the leader of Nigeria.
“Instead, the President will address a joint session of the National Assembly, which has lined up a programme to commemorate 25 years of the nation’s democratic journey at both the executive and legislative levels,” Onanuga had said.
But, barely four hours later, Ngelale issued a contradictory statement dismissing Onanuga’s release as “false and unauthorised.”
Ngelale clarified that Tinubu has instead embarked on the inauguration of strategic projects across the country to mark his first year in office and further his commitment to good governance.
The presidential spokesman stated that “the Office of the President” was not involved in planning any event at the National Assembly, contrary to Onanuga’s claim.
“In view of public commentary concerning the President delivering a speech before a Joint Sitting of the National Assembly tomorrow, May 29, 2024, it is important to state that this information is false and unauthorized as the Office of the President was not involved in the planning of the event,” Ngelale affirmed.
However, in a shocking statement issued on Saturday, Ngilale noted that the leave was to enable him frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting his immediate, nuclear family.
He said: “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.
“I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit. I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and I during this time.”