News

Why Bwala was demoted as Tinubu’s spokesperson

Published

1 month ago

November 20, 2024

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.”

He also posted on X: “Today, I resumed officially as the Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications/Spokesperson (State House). ”

“Spokesperson” was not part of his designation when it was announced four days earlier.

‘TINUBU WAS FURIOUS’

In faraway Brazil, Tinubu was said to have been furious on learning of Bwala’s manoeuvre and immediately instructed Onanuga to issue a clarification.

In his statement, Onanuga wrote: “President Bola Tinubu has re-designated the positions of two recently appointed officials in the State House media and communications team to enhance efficiency within the government’s communication machinery.

“The restructuring is as follows: Mr. Sunday Dare – hitherto Special Adviser on Public Communication and National Orientation, is now Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications.

“Mr. Daniel Bwala – announced last week as Special Adviser, Media and Public Communication, is now Special Adviser Policy Communication.

“These appointments, along with the existing role of Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, underscore that there is no single individual spokesperson for the Presidency. Instead, all the three Special Advisers will collectively serve as spokespersons for the government.”

A CASE OF ‘FAILED COUP’

Tinubu had assembled a very large media team — the biggest in Nigeria’s history — and this might have led to the game of intrigues from the day he assumed office.

Dele Alake, commissioner of information and strategy in Lagos state from 1999-2007 when Tinubu was governor, had been positioned to be special adviser on media, strategy and special duties to the president.

It seemed a done deal until Seyi Tinubu, whom insiders say plays a major role in appointments made by his father, decided to torpedo it.

“Seyi brought Ajuri. After the appointment, he asked Ajuri to assert himself from the get-go and that was what Ajuri did. That gave him unfettered access to the president. Other members of the team did not have that access,” another insider told TheCable.

“When Ajuri fell out of favour, Seyi started working on bringing Bwala to replace him. He believes a presidential spokesman should be very vocal and should be on TV every day attacking the president’s critics, so Bwala fitted the bill for him.

“When Bwala’s appointment was announced, Seyi also told him to adopt the same Ajuri strategy: go on the podium, declare yourself spokesman and take over the office.”

Bwala tried the script. It worked for less than 24 hours.

All indications are now that he would be speaking for the office of special adviser to the president on policy coordination, headed by Hadiza Bala Usman, rather than the president.

Credit: TheCable

News

Renovation: Tinubu, Shettima’s official quarters to gulp N6.36bn

Published

2 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Naijablitznews

The Federal Government has allocated a total of N6,364,181,224 billion for the renovation and rehabilitation of the residential quarters of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and some of their aides in the 2025 budget proposal.

Sunday PUNCH’s analysis of the proposed allocation, contained in the 2025 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly, showed that the annual maintenance of the Presidential Villa would gulp N5.49bn.

According to the proposed budget, N765m will be used for the renovation of the Vice President’s quarters and guest house.

The renovation of the president’s quarters at the State House will cost N6.39m, while the renovation of security quarters, auditorium, gymnasium and presidential aides’ quarters will cost N49m.

In addition, the renovation of Prescott barracks at Maple State House officers’ mess building and signal office in Asokoro, Abuja will cost N51m.

Further analysis of the budget revealed that Tinubu and his vice are also expected to have N87m as honorarium and sitting allowances, while N127m was allocated for the procurement of SUVs.

Also, N3.66bn was budgeted for the purchase of State House operational vehicles and N1,09bn will be spent on replacement of SUV vehicles at the State House.

Under the budget of the State House Lagos Liaison Office, there is an allocation of N14.72m for the routine maintenance of State House Lagos facilities (Dodan Barracks, Vice President guest houses at Ikoyi, among others).

Another N140.10m was allocated for the completion of renovation and furnishing of the State House annex (Dodan Barracks), Lagos.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government is planning to spend N1.83bn on converting forfeited properties from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into State House quarters.

The plan to convert forfeited houses from the EFCC comes in the same month that the commission disclosed the recovery of an estate in the Lokogoma District of Abuja, measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 units of duplexes and other apartments.

The commission described this as its “single largest asset recovery” since its inception in 2003.

The estate rests on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09 of the district, and was forfeited in a ruling on Monday, December 2, 2024, by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie.

(Punch)

News

SEE NAIRA Rates Against The USD, GBP, EURO Today December 23, 2024

Published

2 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Naijablitznews

WHEN we look at this month, USD was traded at ₦ at the beginning of this December on Monday, December 2, 2024. As at today with USD being traded at ₦1,655 we see a % for United States Dollar to Naira exchange rate for this month.

On this page, we are primarily focusing on the Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today, the USD to Naira currency pair are the most traded currency in the FX market.

Black Market Exchange Rates
Buying Rate
Selling Rate
Dollar to Naira 1655 1640
Pounds to Naira 2150 2000
Euro to Naira 1730 1700
Canadian Dollar to Naira 1146 1135
Rand to Naira 52 43
Dirham to Naira ‎0 0
Yuan to Naira 62 62
G.Cedi to Nair 70 50
CFA F. (XOF) To Naira 0.83 0.81
CFA F. (XAF) To Naira 0.74 0.74
READ ALSO: INSIDE LIFE: 26-Year-Old Lady Died In Bangladesh With No One To Claim Her Body, She Is A Nigerian From Enugu (SEE PHOTO)

Having full knowledge how much USD to NGN black market exchange rate today will give you a better opportunity to plan and make informed decisions.

Nairatoday.com

News

Passengers Stranded As Warri-Itakpe Train Derails In Delta Community

Published

2 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Naijablitznews

Passengers of a train plying the Warri-Itakpe route escaped death on Sunday as the train derailed at Okpara in the Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was gathered that the passengers were stranded following the incident that happened at about 10pm.

According to eyewitness accounts, some of the passengers got to their destinations on Monday morning.

“The incident happened at Okpara Station last night. They stole many people’s phones and other valuables when they slept at night,” a source said.

“It’s this morning that everybody began to find their way to their various destinations.”

The Nigerian Railway Corporation confirmed the incident in a statement by its spokesman, Yakub Mahmood on Monday.

Mahmood said the service will resume shortly, adding that a team of engineers is at the site of the incident to ensure the track is restored soon.

According to him, the train service will resume as scheduled on Monday afternoon.

The statement reads in part, “The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) hereby informs the general public, especially our valued passengers that ply the Warri-Itakpe route, that following the minor derailment yesterday at the Okpara station, the service will resume shortly as our team of engineers are at the site of the accident to ensure the track is restored anytime soon.

“However, Itakpe-Warri (Ujewu) train will resume as scheduled in the afternoon today.

“All inconveniences caused as a result of the minor derailment is highly regretted.”