The newly appointed Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has said that President Bola Tinubu is a man of empathy, who is committed to opening the Presidency to Nigerians for the benefit of all.
Ngelale, who took over the position of the presidential spokesman on Monday from Dele Alake, who is now a ministerial nominee, said he humbly accepted the appointment to serve as Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and as the official spokesperson of the President and will work round the clock to ensure effective communication with Nigerians and the world at large.
The new Special Adviser had worked with former President Muhammadu Buhari as Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity in the office of the Vice President.
According to him, it is in the interest of all public office holders to know that they are being watched so that they can be held accountable to deliver on the promises of the President in terms of the execution of government policies and “we are going to, in a very shortly order, announce a series of very tangible measures that have to do with the opening up of this institution on a daily basis in a deeper and more comprehensive way than has ever been seen before.
“I believe the first and most important point I would want to make is that this institution belongs to Nigerians. It does not belong to any political party, it does not belong to any public official.
“It belongs to over 200 million citizens of this country both at home and abroad. And it is with that understanding that we will be engaging the world.
“We believe it is the right, not a proboledge but the right of every Nigerian to have full access into the affairs of the Presidential Villa, into the affairs of the office of the President and the office of the Vice president.
“We will be more open in terms of providing access to information to radio networks, television networks, newspapers and online news media than ever before.
“We are committed to ensuring that there is a zero tolerance policy on every spokesperson and every media functionary that works here in the government in terms of how we relate with Nigerians through the press.
“Gone forever, by the grace of God, are the days when government spokesmen and women will speak down to Nigerians or would use condescending language on Nigerians and would display some form of institutional arrogance on Nigerians. That would not happen under my leadership.
“The last point I want to make is that I have had the privilege of speaking with my predessessors. I believe in institutional memory, I believe in the importance of relying on the wisdom of those who have come before us.
“I have spoken with Doctor Reuben Abati, I have spoken with Mr. Femi Adeshina, I have spoken with Mr. Segun Adeniyi. And I will continue to deepen those engagements,” the new presidential spokesman stated.
