A Nigerian investigative journalist, Jaafar Jaafar, has criticized Ajuri Ngelale, the former spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, following Ngelale’s resignation on Friday.
Jaafar remarked that Ngelale is the first presidential spokesman whose television presence and ‘Oyibo’ accent were key factors in securing the prestigious position.
In a memo submitted to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Ngelale announced his decision to take an indefinite leave of absence from his official duties.
In a post on his X handle on Saturday, Jaafar alleged that Tinubu appointed Ngelale primarily for aesthetic reasons to enhance the President’s image and soften his tone.
He said: “Ajuri Ngelale is the first presidential spokesman whose television face and Oyibo accent — not PR or media expertise — earned him the plum job. Tinubu’s family brought him for cosmetic effect to smarten the president’s geriatric outlook and guttural voice. But soon afterwards, his inflated sense of importance and domineering attitude put him at odds with other powers around the president.”
