The spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale, ‘resigned’ from his position on Saturday amid speculations and internal conflicts within the presidency.
Officially, Ngelale cited the need to attend to urgent medical matters affecting his family as the reason for his departure.
However, deeper issues appear to have influenced his decision to step down.
Premium Times has learned that the presidency had been actively searching for a replacement for Ngelale, citing a lack of capacity to fulfill the demands of the role effectively.
Insiders revealed that there had been growing dissatisfaction with his performance, both as the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity and as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action.
The situation escalated when the presidency directed Ngelale to relinquish his media adviser role and focus solely on his duties related to climate action.
Contrary to his wishes to maintain his position in the media wing, he was informed that he would have to work under the supervision of the new appointee, which sources say did not sit well with him.
Further intensifying the strain, Ngelale found himself increasingly marginalized within the corridors of power.
Sources that spoke with the platform noted that he was blocked from meetings with President Tinubu and was conspicuously absent from the president’s delegation to China, signaling a significant reduction in his influence and standing within the administration.
Ngelale was appointed in August 2023 on the recommendation of Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son.
Despite his prior roles as a spokesperson for the presidential campaign council and a senior special assistant on public affairs under former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, concerns about his experience and networking capabilities soon emerged, leading to questions about his suitability for the high-profile position.
