Just In: Tinubu’s Spokesman Ajuri Ngelale Steps Down

With barely 16 months after his appointment, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has announced his exit from the office.

He revealed on Saturday that he had passed a memo to the chief of staff to the president, intimating him of his need to go on an indefinite leave of absence over medical issues affecting his family.

The presidential spokesman, who was on the recent China trip with the president, explained that he needed to frontally deal with the condition and hoped to return fully to work if healing and fate permit.

Ajuri, who is also the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen, wrote in a statement: “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.

“While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing 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.

“I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.

“I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and I during this time.”