The Presidency has dismissed as false reports circulating widely on social media claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, with the President’s Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
The reports, which gained traction online under the headline “Akeem Muri-Okunola replaces Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff to President Tinubu,” were described by the Presidency as a fabrication aimed at misleading the public.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said there was “absolutely no truth” to the claim, 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 said.
The Presidency accused what it described as “mischievous purveyors of fake news” of deliberately spreading the falsehood to create disharmony within the government.
It also urged news organisations and social media users to verify information from credible sources before publishing or sharing reports, particularly on sensitive issues concerning the presidency.
Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, was appointed Chief of Staff by President Tinubu at the start of his administration, while Muri-Okunola serves as the President’s Principal Private Secretary.
