The newly appointed Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on media and publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale has said that the President will keep close watch on all the public officers to ensure that his plans to take Nigeria to the next level of development is carried out.
Ngelale, who spoke to newsmen covering the State House, Abuja, today, August 1, said: “I want to be very clear that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a man of empathy. He is committed to the cause of opening the Presidency to Nigerians for the benefit of not just Nigerians but for the benefit of all public office holders, because 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.”
He described his office as belonging to Nigerians, saying: “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 privilege, 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 Special Adviser said that very soon, he will 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.
“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 Abatti. I have spoken with Mr. Femi Adeshina. I have spoken with Mr. Segun Adeniyi. And I will continue to deepen those engagements.
“And irrespective of political affiliations, all of us love this country. And we’re going to do our best to ensure that the Nigerian media feels that it has its rightful place in the affairs of government; in the affairs of public life and that institutions are open for them to deliver right, accurate and factual information to Nigerians.”
