The resignation of Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, sent shockwaves across the political sphere, with several speculations springing up about his possible replacement.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
His appointment raised a few eyebrows when he was announced last year; however, he has lived up to the hype and expectations that come with defending the president of a country as complicated as Nigeria.
For over 16 months, Ngelale has led the president’s public relations efforts, bringing a fresh perspective and approach to the critical role of serving as the primary liaison between the president and the media.
In his capacity as Special Adviser, Ngelale is responsible for explaining and defending the president’s actions, policies, and positions on various issues.
A statement he signed and submitted to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, stated that his decision was tied to medical matters presently affecting his immediate nuclear family.
His resignation creates a vacancy to be filled. In this article, we cast the spotlight on likely individuals who will replace Ajuri Ngelale.
1) Bayo Onanuga
Bayo Onanuga is a veteran journalist who co-founded TheNews magazine. He was at some point the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria before he was appointed Director of Media and Publicity of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu-Kashim Shettima 2023 Presidential campaign composition.
Currently, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, his wealth of experience in communication makes him the ideal candidate to take over the vacancy.
He has also served as a media advisor to the Lagos State Government and has worked on several high-profile political campaigns.
2) Dele Alake
Alake is another individual who is familiar with the terrain concerning all public speaking and communication. He was also a member of the Tinubu-Kashim Shettima 2023 Presidential campaign that sold President Bola Tinubu to Nigerians.
He served as the former Commissioner for Information in Lagos State and was instrumental in shaping the public image of Tinubu and the APC. Alake, a former editor of the Concord newspaper and a significant member of the media teams for both Chief MKO Abiola’s 1993 presidential campaign and Tinubu’s senatorial campaign in 1991.
He is currently the Minister of Solid Minerals of Nigeria.
3) Tunde Rahman
The veteran journalist is currently serving as a Senior Special Assistant on Media to President Bola Tinubu. Before his appointment, Rahman worked as an editor at Punch and ThisDay newspapers before Tinubu appointed him as his chief press secretary — a role he performs to date.
He, like the others mentioned, has played a key role in shaping Bola Tinubu’s public image as several reports tie him to the success of political campaigns embarked on by the President.
4) Daniel Bwala
Despite his move from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the presidential elections, the lawyer has since announced his return to the ruling party.
He has a wealth of experience in public speaking and communication as he was the
spokesperson for the former vice president’s presidential campaign organization, a position he held during the 2023 presidential campaign.
His defense of the policies of this government makes him an ideal candidate to assume that role.
5) Sunday Akin Dare
Dare was the Minister of Sports from 2019 to 2023 in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. He previously held the position of executive commissioner of stakeholder management at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), having been appointed by then-president, Buhari in August 2016.
Although Dare was widely tipped for appointment as a minister in Tinubu’s first cabinet, he was not chosen. The 58-year-old is the proprietor of Omoluabi 87.7 FM, Mokola, Ibadan, a radio station he started in January 2024.
6) Reno Omokri
Omokri is not a new name in Nigeria’s political dictionary. He served as a Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan. Despite being a member of the largest opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he has publicly defended the deeds and policies of President Bola Tinubu.
He is reported to have friends in high places in this administration, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. While this might be a long shot for Omokri, this administration has shown it has a penchant to do the extraordinary.
The appointment of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, a member of the PDP should be a cue.
7) Tolu Ogunlesi
Ogunlesi is a former special assistant on digital/new media to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. The 42-year-old is a former winner of the Arts and Culture Prize of the defunct CNN Multichoice African Journalism Awards