Ajuri Ngelale, the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President, affectionately referred to President Bola Tinubu as his father.
In a statement released on Saturday to celebrate Tinubu’s 73rd birthday, Ajuri Ngelale praised him as the “last man standing” who supports and guides individuals towards success even when the odds are against them.
Ajuri Ngelale resigned from his role as Tinubu’s spokesman on September 7, 2024.
Ajuri Ngelale also stepped down from his position as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.
A statement from the presidency confirmed that Ajuri Ngelale informed Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, of his decision to take an indefinite leave to address medical issues within his immediate family.
However, the statement titled “My Father, My President, Happy Birthday,” reads:
“On my first day serving in the present government, I only knew H.E. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as my President. My Boss. The leader of our great nation, Nigeria.
“I had not had the privilege of being around him, except on two brief occasions before that day, despite a very active campaign effort on his behalf.
“I could not have known then that I would find in him my most profound mentor and nothing less than a father in the truest sense of the word.
“The President has been nicknamed the Last Man Standing.
“The last man standing does not merely describe a man who heroically campaigned across all nooks of our federation against institutional forces who conspired to deny our population its currency and fuel.
“The last man standing does not also merely describe Daddy as the perpetual winner, triumphant over perpetual candidates, who has won every election he has ever participated in dating back to his school days.
“For those who have the rare privilege of knowing him, he is the last man standing in your corner when all odds are stacked against you; rooting you on and guiding you to success.
“Daddy taught me that the cost and value of rigorous mentorship is the price of a glorious future and that it is only paid back once it is paid forward to the next generation.
“Daddy taught me that appropriate patience and strategic restraint will defeat hard power.
“Daddy taught me that consistent persuasion born out of sincere conviction will break the coercive grip of those who beguile and bully others into submission.
“There are too many invaluable morsels of wisdom and expertise gleaned in the presence of my father to share in this short recognition, but I am and will always be honoured to be associated with our nation’s greatest reformer.
“On this special day, I turn to my Father: Daddy, I thank you for making the selfless and deliberate choice to use your life’s candlelight to kindle the candle flames of those who will illuminate this dark world for generations to come.
“May God Almighty strengthen you with divine wisdom, peace, health, and all that is required of you to deliver the country of our dreams. Happy Birthday.”
