The special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, has dismissed as “false” Bayo Onanuga’s report that President Bola Tinubu will address a joint section of the National Assembly on Wednesday.
In a statement on Tuesday, Onanuga, special adviser to the President on information and strategy, said Tinubu would not make a conventional nationwide broadcast to mark his first year in office anniversary, but instead, he would address a joint session of the National Assembly.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not make a broadcast to the nation on Wednesday to celebrate his first anniversary as the leader of Nigeria,” Onanuga said.
“Instead, the President will address a joint session of the National Assembly, which has lined up a programme to commemorate 25 years of the nation’s democratic journey at both the executive and legislative levels,” Onanuga added.
Furthermore, Onanuga mentioned that “President Tinubu’s speech will dwell on the achievements of his administration and Nigeria’s democracy since the military ceded power in 1999.
“Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, former speaker of the House of Representatives, and now President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, are all lined up to address the parliament.”
Reacting to Onanuga’s statement, Ngelale described his claims as “false,” noting that Tinubu is oblivious to such plans.
In a statement he made on X, Ngelale distanced the presidency from Onanuga’s statement, noting that the information was not sanctioned by the presidency.
“In view of public commentary concerning the President delivering a speech before a Joint Sitting of the National Assembly tomorrow, May 29, 2024, it is important to state that this information is false and unauthorised as the Office of the President was not involved in the planning of the event,” Ngelale stated.
