Speculations Fly On Ngelale’s Leave Of Absence

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media & Publicity, has stepped down from his role, citing personal reasons linked to family health matters.

In a statement released on Friday, Ngelale announced that he would be taking an indefinite leave of absence to address “medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.”

While Ngelale emphasized that his decision was difficult but necessary, social media has been abuzz with speculations and mixed reactions to his sudden departure.

Sources in the Presidency told OSUN DEFENDER that Ngelale had been sacked since Tuesday, but asked to drop a letter of leave of absence to save his face.

The sources noted that the Presidential spokesperson’s exit may be the curtain raiser for the eventual sack of some Tinubu’s cabinet members in the weeks ahead.

However, many Nigerians, especially on X, have begun to question whether his exit was purely personal or if there were other underlying reasons at play.

READ: Ajuri Ngelale Steps Down As Tinubu”s Spokesman

Twitter user @KadunaResident expressed skepticism, stating, “To defend this failed administration, you must lose all elements of integrity. By the end of the tenure, you become a finished man career and family-wise.”

This sentiment was echoed by several others who suggested that Ngelale may have struggled to reconcile his conscience with his role in the administration.

Some users pointed to potential internal conflicts. @Balatic speculated, “I don’t think it’s an ordinary resignation o. It could be from the ongoing feud between him and Onanuga, the bigot.” This comment raised the possibility of discord within President Tinubu’s media team, particularly between Ngelale and other prominent figures.
Others took a more critical view of Ngelale’s tenure, with @VubacosmsVic describing him as “a useful idiot with an expiration date,” suggesting that his role in the administration had run its course.
@onlineguru__ commented that Ngelale could no longer “lie to Nigerians,” implying that ethical concerns may have influenced his decision.

However, not all reactions were negative. @Nzemeka4 praised Ngelale’s conscience, saying, “He is not like Onanuga, Lauritta Onochie, Lai Mohammed, and Festus Keyamo. These folks are APC lying engine,” implying that Ngelale’s resignation was an act of integrity.

Similarly, @JayItsJam thanked Ngelale for his service and wished him well, while others like @trendwithola injected humor into the discussion, calling him a “Professional Irolabi” and predicting more resignations from within the administration.

Ngelale’s statement, however, made no mention of political or ethical issues, instead focusing on the need to prioritize his family during a difficult time. He asked for privacy as his family navigates their medical challenges, adding that he hopes to return to national service when circumstances permit.

As speculation continues to swirl around his resignation, many Nigerians are waiting to see if more information will surface regarding the true nature of his departure from the Tinubu administration.