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| Ajuri Ngelale (The formal spoke person to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu) |
As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marks another year, reflections are beginning to surface from those who have worked closely with him, offering a rare glimpse into the man behind the office. Among them is Ajuri Ngelale, a former presidential spokesman and envoy, whose recollection is less about politics and more about mentorship, leadership, and personal transformation.
Ngelale’s story does not begin with confidence or power. Instead, he recalls approaching Tinubu from a place of uncertainty, like many who enter government service for the first time. In his words, “the day I met… I was defined by a vulnerability that comes with most political outsiders.”
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| President Tinubu |
That early encounter would later shape his understanding of leadership in ways he admits he did not initially expect.
According to him, Tinubu is not just a political leader but a strategist with an unusual depth of perception. He describes a man who studies people closely, understanding their strengths, weaknesses, and motivations, and placing them where they can be most effective. From that vantage point, he says, the president operates with a long term vision, carefully observing how different elements come together in the larger national picture.
Yet beyond strategy, Ngelale highlights something more personal, a mentorship style that blends firmness with patience. He recalls moments of quiet but intense conversations, where lessons were not delivered through grand speeches but through calm, deliberate guidance.
One lesson, in particular, stayed with him.
He explains that, as a young technocrat, his instinct was always to act quickly, to fix problems as soon as they appeared. But Tinubu challenged that thinking. Leadership, he learned, is not just about identifying problems or having the desire to solve them. Timing, patience, and sequence matter just as much.
In one of the defining moments he shared, Tinubu made it clear that rushing to solve a problem can sometimes prevent a leader from seeing the full picture. Some challenges, Ngelale notes, only reveal their true solutions over time, and acting too early may lead to missed opportunities.
Reflecting on this, he quoted the president’s approach in a way that captures the depth of that lesson. Leadership, he said, requires more than good intentions, it demands “accurate sequencing, timing, tailoring, and application of solutions.
For Ngelale, this was not just theory. It became real during his time in office, when he was entrusted with major responsibilities at a relatively young age. At 37, he found himself simultaneously serving as a spokesperson and as a special envoy, roles that exposed him to high level decision making and global engagement.
He admits that the pace of those assignments did not always allow him to fully absorb everything he was learning at the time. But looking back, he now sees those experiences as part of a broader process of growth under a leader he describes as both demanding and insightful.
Another striking aspect of his reflection is the way he portrays Tinubu’s leadership style as a balance between intellect and empathy. He likens it to that of someone who not only oversees from a position of authority but also nurtures people, helping them grow into their potential.
This combination, he suggests, is what sets the president apart.
Still, Ngelale is careful not to place himself among Tinubu’s closest circle of protégés. Instead, he positions his experience as one of many, acknowledging that others may have deeper or longer standing relationships with the president. His aim, he says, is simply to share insights for the sake of history and understanding.
As Tinubu turns 74, these reflections add a personal layer to the public image of Nigeria’s leader. They move beyond policy debates and political headlines, offering a window into how those within his inner circle perceive his methods and mindset.
For observers, the piece serves as both a tribute and a lesson in leadership. It suggests that beyond the visible actions of government lies a more complex process of thinking, planning, and mentorship that shapes decisions at the highest level.
And for Ngelale, the experience appears to have left a lasting impression, one that continues to influence how he views leadership, responsibility, and the slow, often unseen process of solving national problems.
Compiled by SUNDAY UNEKWUOJO SAMSON