President Bola Tinubu will not deliver a speech to a joint sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday, according to Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
“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,” Ngelale clarified in a statement released Tuesday evening.
This denial contradicts earlier statements made by Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu, House of Representatives spokesperson Akin Rotimi (Jr), and Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga.
In a joint statement issued Tuesday morning, the spokesmen had announced that Tinubu would deliver a speech to commemorate 25 years of unbroken democracy and legislative practice in Nigeria.
“The National Assembly will hold a Joint Sitting this week to commemorate 25 years of unbroken democracy and legislative practice in Nigeria,” the initial statement read, adding that “this significant milestone will be marked by a series of events scheduled to begin at 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in the Green Chamber, House of Representatives Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.”
The National Assembly Clerk, Sani Tambawal, also confirmed the event, stating, “This is to inform Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members that as part of the event to commemorate 25 years of unbroken democracy and Legislature in Nigeria, there will be a joint sitting of both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday 29 May 2024. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR will address the joint sitting on the State of the Nation and also commission the National Assembly Library. Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members are expected to be seated by 9 am.”
Onanuga further supported this, saying, “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.”
The conflicting announcements have led to confusion about the planned events, with the presidency’s latest statement emphasizing that any information suggesting Tinubu will address the joint sitting is unauthorised.
