BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
A Human Right Activist, Mahdi Shehu; Ex- Senator Shehu Sani and other Nigerians have made mind-boggling reactions over the exit of Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale.
News Rider reports that on Saturday, September 7, the Social Media was awash with the news of Ngelale's decision to step down from official duties indefinitely.
Ngelale had disclosed that he would embark on indefinite leave to deal with medical issues that is presently affecting his nuclear family.
His resignation was contained in a memo and submitted to the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila read.
But the Presidency had also on Saturday, September 7, issued a statement, accepting Ngelale's decision to proceed on an indefinite leave of absence due to personal and health-related reasons.
The statement, which was shared on the X handle of the Presidency, @NGRPresident was not signed by any official but simply indicated the 'Presidency'.
In the unsigned statement, President Bola Tinubu extended his heartfelt prayers to Ngelale and his family, wishing him a swift recovery and a complete return to good health.
It read in part: "The President has received the memo from Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President as well as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, informing of his decision to proceed on an indefinite leave of absence for personal and health reasons."
Nigerians Kick
Reacting, a Human Right Activist, Mahdi Shehu described Ngelale's exit from the Presidency as wise and saved at the eleventh hour.
On a post he made via his X handle @shehu_mahdi, he noted that when God decides to save his servants,he exits them from a collapsing house.
Shehu who doubles as a Public Affairs Commentator and Non-commercial Whistle Blower added: "When God decides to save his servants, he exits them from a collapsing house, a sinking ship, or a crashing plane or car destined for summersault.
"Such might be the case of Ajuri Ngelale's resignation from the sinking ship of Tinubu and collapsing contraption called Nigeria's Brand of democracy that is nothing but a full circle of deception and fraud.
"From 2019 to 2023, while serving as Buhari's senior special assistant on public communication, Ajuri defended nepotism, fraud, dishonesty, incapacity, cluelessness, and total failure. He knew it was morally wrong and reprehensible.
"Not yet done, from May 2023 to 6th September 2024, he continued like his master Tinubu from the bus stop, where Buhari disembarked."
He pointed out that former President Muhammadu Buhari stopped at a bus stop called disaster and total failure, saying that Ngelale was Buhari's co-reaveller, and they failed together.
Shehu continued: "With Tinubu as his boss, he saw a replica of Buhari, who is talking Nigeria to the next, next, next level of destruction.
"He saw an inevitable collapse and crash of Tinubu's contraption. He knew there was a limit to which he will continue defending, promoting, protecting, and projecting FRAUD, FAILURE, BREACH OF TRUST, GREED, DECEPTION NEPOTISM as success stories.
"Perhaps Ajuri is a lucky person saved by the Grace of God who sees repentant hearts.
Shehu quoted ROMANS.5:19, adding that 'for as by the one man's disobedience, many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience, many will be made righteous.
"May Ajuri remain righteous. Amen. Amen. Amen."
Ex-Kaduna Senator, who is also Human Rights activist, Shehu Sani advised Ngelale to rest, sleep and eat well.
Sani represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressive Congress from 2015 to 2019.
In a post on his X handle @ShehuSani, he wrote: "Ajuri can now rest well, sleep well, eat well, switch off his phone and even add some weight.
Recall that on October 20, 2018, Sani announced his resignation from the ruling APC and defected to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Kaduna.
In another tweet on Sunday, Sani who possibly may still be reacting to the sack of Ngelale added: "When you are a spokesperson of the King, when the King farts, you are expected to inhale it with smiles of joy and tell the World that it smells like Prada or Gucci or Tom ford fragrances or even the Roses from the Garden of Eden."
Other Nigerians barred their fangs on the exit of the Presidential spokesman, claiming that the seat required persons that lacked moral integrity. Below are their comments on X handle:
@MalAminuBello: "The consequences are severe, @ShehuSani and those who socialized with Bola before and after the selections are exemplars of the exploitation and marginalization of the underprivileged. They possess information withheld from the Arewa. God bless Haj. Naja'atu for renouncing them despite enticing promises."
@Waleglory2: "There are still people with a sense of conscience. The Ajuri Ngelale position is highly difficult. To succeed in a role that requires constant dishonesty, it takes individuals who lack moral integrity. The guy conscience no let him rest."
@itumasunny2496: "The truth is that the likes of Bayo Onanuga made his work hard for him. The mistake President Tinubu made was appointing Mr. Onanuga in that position. It conflicts with the job of Ajuri. I think & feel Ajuri resigned because he couldn't stand the power play b/w him & Onanuga."
@Stanvicar: "Ajuri Ngelale has been laid off, but yeah, to deceive gullible Nigerians, it was done through the back door, RESIGN, or be embarrassed. Oh, don't embarrass the president or presidency by resigning. It would raise public sentiment; apply for indefinite leave. APC scammers."
@Teslakidd1: "Ajuri Njegale the man who fed us with lies and turned his back on us feeding us with lies while we suffer. Power doesn’t last forever now he has been fired he even “Lied” about his sack saying instead that he was taking a leave 🙂……say a word of prayer for him 😂😅."
@novieverest: Ajuri Ngelale even had to lie about sack and resignation. What is it that they don't lie about in APC? The anonymous source that released that could be Bayo Onanuga. 😂😂😂😂."
@NewtonIkire: So Ajuri Ngelale has stepped down. Was he bullied out by Bayo Onanuga, or did he get tired of defending his principal's lies? There's always a breaking point. Well, let's hope it was done for a good reason. You never know, he might be made a minister next week, Odumeje."
The Broken Memo
On Friday, September 6, 2024, Ngelale submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, informing him of his plans to proceed on indefinite leave.
He said: "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 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.
"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 me during this time."
On August 1, 2023, Ngelale was appointed as the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
A statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation revealed that the appointment took effect on July 31, 2023, and will terminate at the end of this administration unless otherwise decided by the President.
But on May 19, 2024, Tinubu appointed Ngelale as the first Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action. He was also appointed as the Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen and Secretary of the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions.
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