By Eric Elezuo
The Special Adviser on Media to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, has said the statement earlier released by Bayo Onanuga about President Bola Tinubu addressing a joint session of the National Assembly on May 29, to mark his one year in office is false.
Bayo, who is a special adviser on information and strategy to President Tinubu, had echoed an earlier statement by Clerk of the National Assembly, Magaji Tambuwal.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not make a broadcast to the nation on Wednesday to celebrate his first anniversary as the leader of Nigeria.
“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.
“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.
“Also lined up to speak is the former military ruler, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who handed over power to civilian administration in 1999.
“At the end of the speeches, President Tinubu will commission the National Assembly Library and Resource Center, now to be known as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Building,” Onanuga wrote on Tuesday.
However, in contradiction to the statement, Ngelale released a counter statement, describing Onanuga’s statement as false.
“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 unauthorized as the Office of the President was not involved in the planning of the event,” Ngalale’s terse statement read.
