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Saturday brought unexpected news from the Presidency as Ajuri Ngelale, the voice of President Bola Tinubu, announced his departure on an indefinite leave of absence to prioritize his health and personal affairs.
The sudden exit has set tongues wagging about the potential impact on the presidency’s communication strategy.
The news was disclosed in a statement posted on the official X handle of the Presidency, @NGRPresident, late Saturday evening, shedding light on the sudden departure of the President’s spokesperson.
Without attributing the statement to a specific individual, “The Presidency” confirmed that Ngelale’s reasons for taking an indefinite leave of absence had been deemed satisfactory, effectively approving his request.
“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.
Read also: Ajuri Ngelale To Take Time Off As Presidential Spokesperson
“The President accepts his reasons for the leave, fully understands them and sympathises with the circumstances that have led to this seemingly difficult decision,” the statement read in part.
It added that the President noted his “tireless efforts and dedication in serving the nation, and thanks him for the remarkable contributions he made in his various capacities, especially in advancing national discourse and leading efforts on climate action and other key initiatives.”
In a thoughtful gesture, the statement from the Presidency asked that Ngelale and his family be granted the privacy they desire during this time, allowing them to focus on their well-being without the glare of public attention.
Prior to the Presidency’s announcement, Ngelale had already revealed his intention to relinquish his duties within the administration, citing family-related reasons as the driving force behind his decision.
He said the decision was taken after significant consultations with his family over the past days as a vexatious medical situation had worsened.
As part of his withdrawal from the Presidency, Ngelale also resigned from his key roles as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen, citing a desire to prioritize his family.
