The Presidency has denied reports that Femi Gbajabiamila has been replaced as Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed claims circulating on social media that Tinubu had appointed his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, as the new Chief of Staff.
The denial follows a wave of unverified social media posts alleging a shake-up in the President’s inner circle.
Onanuga urged Nigerians to disregard the reports, describing them as entirely false.
“The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to a viral falsehood circulating on social media suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, with his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola. There is absolutely no truth to this story, and we advise Nigerians to disregard it entirely,” the statement read.
He clarified that both officials remain in their respective positions.
“The Chief of Staff remains in his position, and the Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff,” Onanuga added.
According to the Presidency, the report was deliberately fabricated by individuals seeking to sow discord within the government.
Onanuga also cautioned media organisations against amplifying unverified information, stressing the importance of fact-checking before publication or sharing on social media.
“The viral claim is a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government. We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing,” he said.
