Special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on information and strategy Bayo Onanuga has begun trending on social media after Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu’s special adviser on media and publicity, announced on Saturday that he was proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence.
According to Mr Ngelale, the decision was taken after significant consultations with his family over the past days as a vexatious medical situation had worsened.
In June, Ngelale said he does not consider himself at the same level as Onanuga.
His comments during an interview on Television Continental (TVC) followed two conflicting statements issued by Onanuga and him about Tinubu’s activities marking his one year in office.
Onanuga first said Tinubu would deliver a speech to a joint sitting of the National Assembly on May 29 to commemorate the anniversary, Ngelale countered with a statement, saying that Tinubu would not address the lawmakers.
Ngelale said during the interview that the incident does not portray confusion and division in the Presidency.
“I have been really saddened by some of the commentary attempting to create confusion and division within the office of the president, in respect to my humble self and a very respected elder colleague, Bayo Onanuga,” he said.
“I want to be very clear that when I was somewhere in primary school, Onanuga was risking his life on the streets of Lagos against murderous oppressors.
“He was defending the rights of Nigerians to be able to vote for their leaders. Anybody trying to create the impression that I see myself as on par or level with somebody of the stature of Onanuga should stop the conversation. (Onanuga is) somebody I revere a lot. He is somebody that I respect to the utmost.”
In spite of his comments, Ngelale’s decision to step down has raised fresh concerns by Nigerians on social media. See their comments below:
