JUST IN: Ngelale Counters Bayo Onanuga After ‘Unauthorised’ State House Release On Tinubu’s First Anniversary Engagements

There appears to be a lack of coordination within the media team of President Bola Tinubu, as his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, has overridden a statement issued earlier by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Onanuga had released a statement on his Facebook page announcing that President 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.

The statement listed former Senate President, David Mark, and former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, among others, as lined up to also address the parliament, after which Tinubu would commission the newly named “Bola Ahmed Tinubu Building” housing the National Assembly library.

“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.

“President Tinubu’s speech will dwell on the achievements of his administration and Nigeria’s democracy since the military ceded power in 1999,” Onanuga had said.

However, barely four hours later, Ngelale issued a contradictory statement dismissing Onanuga’s release as “false and unauthorized.”

Ngelale clarified that President 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.

THE WHISTLER reports that this is not the first time the two presidential media advisers have issued separate statements in the name of the State House on the same matter, thereby calling to question the proper channels of communication and authorisation of official statements from the presidency.