₦airaland Forum

EXCLUSIVE: Ajuri Ngelale Did Not Resign Due to ‘Vexatious Medical Situation’. He Was Fired

Published 7th Sep, 2024



Ajuri Ngelale, the broadcast journalist who made a name for himself with his eloquence and sonorous voice, did not resign as special adviser to the president on media and publicity to tend to a “vexatious medical situation” in his family as he claimed, FIJ can report.

Instead, FIJ understands, he was fired by the presidency and only allowed to publicly resign after his repeated pleas for a soft landing.

Ngelale, who was also the special presidential envoy on climate action, stunned Nigerians on Saturday morning when he announced his abrupt exit from office, citing “medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family”.

A FACE-SAVING COVER-UP

“On Friday, I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family,” Ngelale wrote.

“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.”

He said he looked “forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit”, and respectfully asked “for some privacy for my family and I [sic] during this time”.

But multiple highly-placed sources in and around the presidency told FIJ on Saturday afternoon that Ngelale’s exit was not triggered by a family health emergency, but rather his loss in a power tussle with Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.

LONG-RUNNING FEUD WITH ONANUGA

FIJ understands that following the election of Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s president in 2023, Ngelale did not exactly hit it off with Onanuga, largely because having been in government before Onanuga — President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Ngelale his senior special adviser on public affairs in 2019 and he served in this position until the end of Buhari’s tenure — he considered himself Onanuga’s boss.

Ngelale, 38, began his career with the Africa Independent Television (AIT) in the 2000s, while Onanuga, 67, a former Managing Director of the News Agency of NJigeria (NAN), began his career in the 1980s. There was one problem, though: while Ngelale was special adviser on media and publicity, Onanuga was the special adviser on information and strategy.

FIJ understands that civil servants found the roles confusing. This was nothing like in the Buhari administration when Femi Adesina was the special adviser on media and publicity and Garba Shehu the senior special assistant on media publicity. In the latter case, everyone knew Adesina, as SA, was senior, while Adesina, as SSA, was subordinate.

Ngelale and Onanuga both had special adviser roles; and the profolios seemed similar. However, by design, the civil service structure of the villa reported to the SA media, and that was Ngelale.

FAVOURITE OF THE PRESIDENT — AND HIS SON

“Ngelale considered himself untouchable because he had the backing of the president’s son Seyi and Femi Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff,” one source who asked not to be named for fear of retribution told FIJ.

“He was fired; I became aware of this on Tuesday, but I won’t rule out the possibility that it happened earlier. When he got the letter, he started to plead to be allowed to resign as a soft landing. He was eventually given a soft landing, which is understandable. News of his sacking in public would have thoroughly embarrassed not just Ngelale but the presidency too.”

Although this source expressed regrets that things eventually got to a head, they conceded that there was no other way out, given Ngelale’s unwillingness to discuss his long-drawn-out feud with Onanuga when the opportunities were presented to him.

“The Ngelale-Onanuga feud was no secret in the villa, so several top appointees and cabinet members attempted to intervene at separate times; and while Onanuga was open to peace talks, Ngelale wasn’t,” the source continued.

“For example, Mohammed Idris Malagi, the minister of information and national orientation, called for talks four times. Onanuga was willing to attend but Ngelale snubbed them all, always claiming he was busy.”

‘BLOCKING ONANUGA’ FROM HAVING AN OFFICE

Civil servants who asked not to be named, as well as a source familiar with presidency happenings, told FIJ that Onanuga, despite being formally appointed in October 2023 “was a squatter in the presidency and did not have an office of his own until just a few months ago”.

“When Onanuga was appointed, he had no office. He was squatting in Tunde Rahman’s office,” said one of the sources. “It was just recently that he eventually got an office that belonged to either Wale Edun or Zacheus Adedeji when they were still advisers.

Rahman, the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, was appointed in July 2023 — three months earlier than Onanuga’s appointment. Meanwhile, Zacheus Adedeji was appointed special adviser on revenue while and Wale Edun was appointed special adviser on monetary policy in June 2023.

While Adedeji has since become the executive chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Edun has since become minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy. Notably, all three appointments came months ahead of Onanuga’s.

These were people who had been with Tinubu for decades, unlike Ngelale, so how did Ngelale become so powerful that he got appointed earlier, blocked Onanuga from having an office to himself and all the aforementioned appointees could not fix Onanuga an office?

As written earlier, Ngelale had the backing of Seyi Tinubu and Gbajabiamila, but a third source took it even further, saying: “It was about how he got the job.”

SO, HOW?

How Ajuri ingratiated himself with Tinubu
“During the 2023 presidential electioneering, Jumoke Oduwole, the special adviser on Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), introduced Ngelale to Gbajabiamila,” said the source.

“When Ngelale got there, he met Seyi. He told Seyi he would facilitate a CNN interview duirng which Tinubu’s presidential ambition would be discussed. Seyi thought it was impossible, but Ngelale did it. He secured the interview on CNN. He then told Seyi the time and date it would air. Seyi promised Ngelale that Tinubu would phone him if he pulled it off. Immediately after the interview was aired, Tinubu called Ngelale.

“When Tinubu won the election, Ngelale was abroad. People told him to return home but he said no; he insisted he would get his own appointment once he arrived in the country. And that was exactly what happened: Ngelale’s appointment by Tinubu was announced days after his return to Nigeria.

“Conversely, Gbajabiamila delayed the announcement of Onanuga’s appointment for at least two months. It required Chief Bisi Akande, who originally made the case for Onanuga’s appointment, to return to Tinubu for follow-up conversations. That was when Tinubu ordered that Onanuga’s appointment should be made, and that was how Onanuga came to the villa.”

THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL’S BACK

FIJ understands that villa staff and civil servants whose work related to the president’s communication strategy noticed the tension between Ngelale and Onanuga and thought if they worked with one, then the other thought they were against him.

“This meant work of publicing the president’s progressive policies was derailed,” said the source.

“By the way, Ngelale instructed civil servants that no statement from Onanuga could go out if he had not personally cleared it. If you speak with sources across divides, they would tell you Onanuga was the more peace-seeking of the duo. But this particular order from Ngelale to civil servants annoyed Onanuga.”

FIJ understands Ngelale’s standing with Tinubu started to plummet once it was easy to pitch to the president how Ngelale’s unharmonious relationship not just with Onanuga but with the media was hindering good publicity for the president.

“He did not have a good relationship with journalists. Ask the reporters; ask the state house correspondents. And also ask editors,” added the source.

“Many people consider him disrespectful and arrogant, even the editors. You can hardly find any important editor in Nigeria who likes or regards Ngelale.”

NGELALE, ONANUGA MUM

FIJ sent a text and WhatsApp messages to Ngelale, seeking his comments, but they were not replied. FIJ also made cellular and WhatsApp calls to Ngelale’s number, but none was answered.

When FIJ repeated the process with Onanuga, the outcome was the same.

they should give babajide of journalist hangout the job

But he's actually good at it to be honest.

APC government will soon tax the air we breathe.

They said in accordance with FIRS. The blame should be directed to the government not.

They should give jide of journalist hangout the job

sleek214:
Ok. Govt will still increase fuel price..... It's only a matter of time.

And they have done it ooh. You can really see into the future

My husband does not need Nigeria money.

Meanwhile, your husband no get something like this before.

Government wants to rubbish labour, then impeach the present labour president Ajearo, then choose their own candidate who will dance to their kind of music.

To deliberate on another deceptive information or excuses to extend our pains.

Don't blame her

Remove kyari of NNPCL too

Nigerians, more sufferings to come

Something he would have done the moment that Mugu asked him to renew his contract with napoli


Agent of darkness

No Landing Cost, No VAT Charges, No Port Duty, No Forex Impediments and yet NNPCL Increase Fuel Price! The More We Try To Understand the Indices Of Nigerian Economy, the more confused we become.

No Landing Cost, No VAT Charges, No Port Duty, No Forex Impediments and yet NNPCL Increase Fuel Price! The More We Try To Understand the Indices Of Nigerian Economy, the more confused we become.

No Landing Cost, No VAT Charges, No Port Duty, No Forex Impediments and yet NNPCL Increase Fuel Price! The More We Try To Understand the Indices Of Nigerian Economy, the more confused we become.

I like this guy. Na man e be

What about the Petroleum Ministry? Hope the president will remember to reshuffle the 'minister' too?

As the nation groans under hunger, hardship and inflation, the governor of the Central Bank, CBN, Yemi Cardoso, and his four deputies are lavishing in abundance, purchasing ulta-modern armored vehicles and smiling home with jumbo allowances.

The CBN governor and his deputies were nominated and confirmed by the Senate in September 2023.

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that Mr Cardoso recently procured six armored Lexus LX 600 2023 models for himself and four deputies at the cost of over N10 billion.

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Insiders said each of the apex bank’s deputy governors — Emem Usoro, Philip Ikeazor, Bala Bello and Sani Abdullahi — has taken delivery of one of the armored SUVs.


DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that both the governor and his deputies already have armored vehicles in their convoy before the procurement of the new ones.

Insiders further alleged that Mr Cardoso also bought about 20 latest Toyota Camry cars at the rate of N85m for the CBN management and the board members.

The jumbo allowances of the CBN governor, deputies

CBN insiders revealed that the governor and his deputies have allegedly jacked up their annual housing allowances to about a staggering 1 billion naira despite occupying official palatial residences in Maitama, Abuja.

According to the sources, they upgraded their international travel privileges from business class to first class at a time a first class ticket from Abuja to New York costs about 15,000 dollars.
The insiders said the governor and his deputies have also upgraded their foreign travel allowances, pocketing 7,000 dollars a night for a foreign trip.

Attempts to get reaction from the CBN spokesperson Hakama Sidi-Ali were unsuccessful as she neither responded to call nor SMS sent to her phone number.

How much is Lexus LX 600?

According to www.fox7austin.com, the full-size LX 600 is based on the latest Toyota Land Cruiser, which is a favorite of government agencies and aid organizations operating in hostile areas.

“The LX 600 is aimed more at the rich and famous looking for protection and includes a host of features that turn their trucks into luxurious bunkers.

“The vehicle has been fully armored to take shots from a 7.62mm rifle and has been certified to be able to withstand simultaneous blasts from two hand grenades.


Along with the ballistic bodywork and glass, the vehicle is equipped with protection for its engine, cargo area and fuel tank. It rides on a beefed-up suspension to handle the extra weight and run-flat tires to keep it moving under all circumstances,” the website said.

Options include a siren, fire suppression system, night vision cameras and escape hatches in case it is rolled or otherwise disabled.

According to the experts, the standard LX 600, with its 409 hp turbocharged V6 and 4×4 drivetrain, starts at $88,245, while the armored versions cost well over $200,000, depending on the configuration.

https://dailynigerian.com/amid-hardship-cbn-governor/

What has he been waiting for all this while?

South Africans always looking for other groups to push their frustrations on. And of course, their fellow Africans are the perfect scape goats. Stereotypes are now believed to be facts.

Nigerians never gets tired of fighting themselves!

They should also convert the presidential air fleet to national carriers.

Again from same side of the country? Can he just let Nigeria be one? I’m not in support of this Nepotism! It’s getting ridiculous .

Brand new then between 4k to 5k. Their generation did not buy foreign used cars.

But then these amounts weren't so easy to earn ooh!

They wrote us off, but we have already displaced Manchester United. Next is to displace Arsenal, then City and finally remain at the top till the end of the season.

They said Palmer is one season wonder, and he has had more goal contribution than all Manchester United and Arsenal players.

We will surprise them this season.

MrBrownJay1:
one healthy bribe is enough... now he needs the free time to enjoy the money. wasnt hit Hushpuppy that was giving millions to one yeye top official?

Probably has to do with integrity?

There must be something to it because is rare for those top government officials to resign

South Africans and "Enisa" dey explain.

Today na day to cancell everybody, no time!