A new report has revealed that close aides of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are currently locked in a struggle over who will succeed Ajuri Ngelale as the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
Ngelale recently announced that he was taking an indefinite leave of absence due to health issues within his immediate family. He submitted a formal memo on Friday to the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
According to sources, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, is reportedly eyeing Ngelale’s position. However, he faces stiff competition from two other top media aides close to the president, Sunday Dare and Tunde Rahman.
Sunday Dare, who served as Tinubu’s personal Chief of Staff before becoming the Minister of Youths and Sports under former President Muhammadu Buhari, is said to be a strong contender. Meanwhile, Tunde Rahman, with his extensive media background as editor of Punch and ThisDay newspapers, and his role as Tinubu’s personal Chief Press Secretary, is also vying for the position.
A source familiar with the situation said, “All three are in the race, pulling strings at the villa to secure the role.” The source, however, declined to identify a clear favorite for the job.
Ultimately, the decision is expected to rest with Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila. “Whoever he picks will get the job, and he could even choose someone outside the current contenders,” the source added.
