Reactions have followed the resignation of Ajuri Ngelale, the spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu.
Ngelale, in a memo Friday, cited the need to address medical issues as a reason for stepping down from his position.
However, sources reveal that Ngelale’s resignation was driven by concerns over potential humiliation.
This reporter gathered that recent directives from the presidency assigned Ngelale to focus on his climate action role, while another individual would be appointed as media adviser and spokesperson.
While Ngelale’s request to remain as a media adviser was denied, the Presidency allowed him to stay on the media team under a new appointee’s supervision.
According to sources familiar with the development, the situation unsettled Ngelale, and further faced isolation, including being blocked from meeting with President Tinubu and excluded from the president’s delegation to China.
The appointment of Ajuri Ngelale
Appointed in August 2023 on the recommendation of Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, Ngelale’s tenure was marred by doubts about his experience and capabilities.
He previously worked as a spokesperson for the APC’s presidential campaign council and had a relatively short journalism career.
Despite his previous roles, sources indicated that he lacked the requisite “experience, contacts, and networks” for the position.
Beyond the Presidency
Prior to the fallout within the Presidency, criticism of Ngelale’s performance has emerged from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), which questioned his qualifications and suitability for the role.
According to the institute, his limited interaction with media professionals and low respect from journalists were further highlighted as significant issues.
In a statement late on Saturday, President Tinubu acknowledged Ngelale’s departure and expressed sympathy for the difficulties leading to his decision.
Where is Ajuri Ngelale from?
According to details obtained from Wikipedia, Ngelale is said to be born in Platteville, Wisconsin, United States to a Nigerian father of Eleme origin, Chief Precious Osaro Ngelale and German-American mother Diane who served as Social Welfare Director of the Rivers State Government under Governor Melford Okilo.
Ajuri Ngelale Tribe
Multiple sources revealed that Ajuri Ngelale’s tribe is Eleme, a part of the Ogoni ethnic group in Rivers State, Nigeria.
Ajuri Ngelale Wife
Ajuri Ngelale’s wife is an Igbo woman from eastern Nigeria. With her, he has three children, an online source claimed.
Ajuri Ngelale Biography
Ajuri Obari Ngelale, born 13 November 1986, is a Nigerian broadcast journalist and politician who served as presidential spokesman to president Bola Tinubu. He previously served as presidential senior special adviser on public affairs to former president Muhammadu Buhari and was a co-principal spokesperson of Bola Tinubu presidential campaign council for the 2023 Nigerian general election which they won.
Ajuri Ngelale Career -What we know
Ngelale started journalism career as a youth corps member at Africa Independent Television where he was deployed for his one-year national service.
- After completing his national service, he was retained by AIT as an investigative reporter and later served as a news editor, producer and presenter from 2011 to 2016.
- At AIT, he produced two critically acclaimed public affairs documentary series State of the Nation (2012) and Diary from the Delta (2016).
- He left AIT in 2016 and joined Channels Television where he served as a co-anchor of popular public policy discussion program Sunrise Daily and in partnership with the United States Government’s Mandela Washington Fellowship, produced and presented Africa’s Future Leaders which documented young African leaders uplifting disadvantaged population through their individual efforts.
