People trying to create division within presidency… I revere Onanuga, says Ajuri Ngelale

Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and publicity, says there is no division or confusion among the ranks of the presidential spokespersons.

Ngalele spoke in an interview on Politics on Sunday on Television Continental (TVC).

On May 28, two separate statements were issued by Ngelale and Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, about Tinubu’s activities marking his one year in office.

While Onanuga said the president would deliver a speech to a joint sitting of the national assembly on May 31 to commemorate the anniversary, Ngelale issued a counter-statement, insisting that Tinubu would not address the lawmakers.

Addressing the situation, Ngelale Ajuri said he is “saddened by some of the commentary attempting to create confusion and division within the office of the president”.

“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,” the presidential spokesperson 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.”