Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications to President Bola Tinubu, has stated that he will not engage in any conflict with Bayo Onanuga, who serves as the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Gatekeepers News reports that Bwala made these remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Monday.
Bwala expressed his support for Onanuga, indicating that he would be pleased to see him lead the presidential media team.
“Bayo Onanuga is an elder statesman. He’s a very brilliant journalist who has had his records. We are happy he’s leading us as a leader,” he said.
“I’m happy for him to lead. I haven’t been told, but I’m happy for him to lead. Because he’s an elder, I will respect him.
“And he has his own record. He has served Nigeria well. He has a proven record as a journalist.
“I can never be drawn into a position where I will rub shoulders with him. I doff my cap for him.
“My own is, if he says ‘go and carry that table,’ I will just do so; that’s my job. It’s not about title.”
Bwala further noted that he is assuming the role previously held by Ajuri Ngelale, the former presidential spokesperson.Ngelale left his position in September 2023 to address medical issues affecting his nuclear family, leading to some confusion regarding the transition. Following Ngelale’s departure, Onanuga began his role as presidential spokesman and has since relocated to the office that Ngelale occupied at the presidential villa.
During the discussion, Bwala clarified that he is the presidential spokesperson and noted that the changes in personnel reflect a new office nomenclature rather than a shift in substantive duties.
“When Ajuri was there, the nomenclature was special adviser on media and publicity, and now that role is called special adviser on media and public communications (State House). Sunday Dare works from the office of the minister of information,” he added.
