Ajuri Ngelale, a presidential aide, has publicly expressed reverence for colleague Bayo Onanuga, denying divisions within President Tinubu's office amid conflicting statements.
In a bid to dispel rumors of internal rifts within the presidency, Ajuri Ngelale, a special adviser to President Bola Tinubu, has publicly expressed his reverence for fellow presidential aide Bayo Onanuga. Ngelale's statement comes in the wake of conflicting statements issued by the two spokespersons regarding the president's plans to address the National Assembly.
"I have been saddened by some of the commentary attempting to create confusion and division within the office of the president, in respect to me and a very respected elder colleague, Bayo Onanuga," Ngelale said in an interview with Television Continental (TVC).
Ngelale, who serves as the special adviser on media and publicity, went on to emphasize Onanuga's long-standing role as a defender of democracy and human rights in Nigeria. "When I was somewhere in primary school, Onanuga was risking his life fighting against murderous oppressors on the streets of Lagos," he said. "He was defending the rights of Nigerians to be able to vote. Anybody trying to create the impression that I see myself as on par or equal with him should stop the conversation. [Onanuga is] somebody I revere a lot."
The public display of deference from Ngelale towards Onanuga, the special adviser on information and strategy, is seen as a calculated move to quell speculation of discord within the president's inner circle.
The conflicting statements issued by the two advisers had fueled concerns about potential power struggles and a lack of coordination among Tinubu's top aides.
As the Tinubu administration navigates its first year in office, the public show of unity from Ngelale and his expressed reverence for Onanuga's experience and stature aims to project an image of cohesion and stability within the presidency's ranks.
