The Presidency on Thursday dismissed reports claiming President Bola Tinubu replaced Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila with his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola. The denial followed viral social media posts citing “insider” sources. The government said the claim was unverified and advised Nigerians to ignore it.
In a statement, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said: “There is absolutely no truth to this story. We advise Nigerians to disregard it entirely.” He added, “The Chief of Staff remains in his position… Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff.”
The Presidency described the report as a fabrication by promoters of fake news seeking to cause discord within government ranks. It stressed that both the Chief of Staff and the Principal Private Secretary “likewise remains in his role,” urging calm amid the misinformation spread online.
Onanuga reminded media organisations to verify facts before publication or social media circulation. He said, “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.”
The Presidency reiterated its stance, urging Nigerians to rely on confirmed official channels. It maintained that no change had occurred in the Chief of Staff position and cautioned against spreading unverified claims capable of misleading the public.