THE CABLE
Daniel Bwala had barely announced himself as the new presidential spokesman when Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, issued a statement saying there was no “presidential spokesman” in that sense.
To boot, Onanuga announced the re-designation of Bwala as special adviser on policy communication to the president — a position that means the latest addition to President Bola Tinubu’s media team will now operate away from the presidential villa.
It all happened in a day’s job — on Monday, November 18.
Bwala was announced as the special adviser to media and public communication on November 14, leading to speculation about who would lead the president’s information management team.
Onanuga had been doing the job, issuing statements and making pronouncements on behalf of the president since the exit of Ngelale Ajuri, who was special adviser on media and publicity, in September.
However, after a meeting of members of the media team at the office of the spokesman at the presidential villa on Monday, there was a reluctance on the part of Bwala to depart.
“It appeared he wanted to start using the office immediately. Incidentally, Onanuga, who moved into the office only recently, is currently with the president in Brazil for the G20 meeting, so it seemed Bwala wanted to take it over in his absence,” an insider told TheCable.
Another insider added that shortly after, Bwala moved into the press briefing room to address State House correspondents — to the shock of everyone.
“There is no issue as to the differences in terms of the responsibility; everybody knows his responsibility,” he told the media when asked what he would be doing.
“I only came to introduce myself to you and the role that was given to me by Mr. President. I told you that role was once occupied by Ajuri Ngelale.
“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.”
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