The Mayor of Urhoboland and former ex-militant leader in the Niger Delta region, Eshanakpe Israel a.k.a Akpodoro has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint a patriotic, fearless and top-notch media personality as replacement for the former Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale who recently tendered his resignation over health concerns.
Akpodoro in a telephone chat with our correspondent from his Ughelli, Delta State’s Mayoral Palace stated this saying there’s urgent need for the President to shop for and appoint a highflying professional as replacement for the Okrika Rivers State-born image maker of the President.
He said the presidency needed a thoroughbred media personality who has the wherewithal to engage the ‘ravaging clueless opposition elements in the country adding that the venomous anti government forces need a pan Nigerian nationalist to put them in their appropriate pigeonholes.
Without blaming the President, Mayor Akpodoro noted that Chief Ngelale’s appointment and subsequent promotion was a hasty decision that ought to have been done gradually to firmly establish the appointee on a sound footing, adding that he should, as a talent hunter, go for a technocrat with a mix of political acumen to engage the Nigerian people on the activities of the presidency.
Ngelali, accoridng to the former warlord, put in his best and his replacement should be a much better team player who can expertly meander through the murky waters of politics within the Presidential villa and such character the Mayor said must exude absolute loyalty and solidarity to the appointing authority no matter whose ox is gored.
Mayor Akpodoro who is a Phase 2 ex-militant leader and doubles as the President of the National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, NCNDE-A, stressed further that Ngelale’s successor must be impervious to external forces who he said are wont to infiltrate the presidency and should have the dexterity to work harmoniously with the Nigerian media industry with absolute honesty and moral probity.
Wishing the former Spokesperson to the President a quick recovery from his health challenges, the Mayor said sterling characters abound in the country who are round pegs and should be put in the round hole saying the presidency should appoint a vibrant and intelligent youth to fill the vacuum created by Ngelale’s exit.
The Mayor who has been an ardent critic of the oppositions against the President, condemned what he described as the lackadaisical attitudes of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi who he said has not been talking to Nigerians to update them on the lofty programmes and policies of the present administration.
“The achievements of this administration are not adequately communicated to Nigerians through Malagi’s office. He is not doing enough to sensitise Nigerians on the progress being made by the President on his renewed hope agenda.
“Most negative reactions from the citizens against the Tinubu’s administration is borne out of the vacuum created by the silence of the information ministry.
“Malagi’s best is not good enough for Nigerians, most Nigerians don’t even know even the Minister’s name. We who are without portfolios defend this administration much better than those who are appointed as ministers.
“If the minister won’t up his game, he should resign like Ngelale did and allow for a better and more active person to step in and change the current ugly trends of gross laxity and cluelessness,” the Mayor stated as he called for more support and understanding of the efforts of the president to exit the country from the woods.
