The Presidency has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, with the Principal Private Secretary to the President, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
The Independent Mirror reports that in a statement issued on Wednesday, the Presidency described the report as false, misleading and entirely fabricated, urging Nigerians to ignore it in its entirety.
According to the statement, signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, there has been no change in the leadership structure of the President’s office.
“There is absolutely no truth to this story,” the statement said. “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 Presidency accused the authors of the viral claim of deliberately spreading fake news with the intention of causing confusion and disharmony within the government.
Describing the report as the handiwork of “mischievous purveyors of falsehood,” the statement warned that such misinformation could undermine public confidence and distract from the administration’s work.
The Presidency also used the opportunity to caution members of the media and social media users to always verify information from credible and official sources before publishing or sharing.
“We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media,” the statement added.
Mr Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, was appointed Chief of Staff to President Tinubu at the start of the administration, while Hakeem Muri-Okunola, a former Lagos State Head of Service, currently serves as Principal Private Secretary to the President.
The Presidency reaffirmed its commitment to transparent communication and timely clarification of false narratives concerning the administration.
