By Onyeche Igwe
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, yesterday, applied to proceed on an indefinite leave of absence to deal with medical matters affecting his nuclear family.
The presidential spokesman, in a memo sent to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, pleaded that within the period he would be away, his family would need privacy.
Ngelale said during this period, his job as the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, President’s spokesperson, Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen would be paused.
He further said the decision was taken after consultations with his family over several days following a worsening medical situation at home.
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 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 me during this time.”
