The Presidency has dismissed as false a viral claim circulating on social media that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, with the Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the report as a fabrication and urged Nigerians to ignore it completely.
“There is absolutely no truth to this story. We advise Nigerians to disregard it entirely,” Onanuga said, reacting to the widespread online speculation.
He clarified that there has been no change in the leadership structure of the Presidency, stressing that both officials remain in their respective positions. “The Chief of Staff remains in his position. The Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff,” the statement read.
The Presidency accused the originators of the report of deliberately spreading misinformation to sow discord within the government. According to Onanuga, the claim was “a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.”
He also used the opportunity to caution the media and social media users against amplifying unverified information. “We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media,” Onanuga said.
The clarification comes amid heightened public interest in developments within President Tinubu’s administration, with the Presidency reaffirming that its top aides remain firmly in place and that no changes have been made to the office of the Chief of Staff.
