ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Presidency has issued a strong denial following widespread reports that President Bola Tinubu has sacked his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, replacing him with his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
In a statement released on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency labeled the reports as a complete fabrication and urged the public to disregard them.
“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,” the statement read.
Onanuga categorically stated, “There is absolutely no truth to this story. We advise Nigerians to disregard it entirely.”
The statement clarified that there has been no change in the senior presidential staff lineup. “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 attributed the false report to “mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.”
Concluding the rebuke, Onanuga reiterated a call for media responsibility, urging news outlets to “always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media.”
The swift denial aims to quell speculation and affirm stability within President Tinubu’s inner circle amidst the circulating rumors.