President Bola Tinubu has declared that he has no plans to replace Femi Gbajabiamila as his Chief of Staff. Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, was appointed as the President’s Chief of Staff in June 2023. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement on Thursday, debunked reports that the President has replaced him with Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Principal Private Secretary.
The statement noted that the attention of the Presidency has been drawn to a viral falsehood circulating on social media suggesting that President Bola Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, with Hakeem Muri-Okunola. The Presidency noted, “There is absolutely no truth to this story, and advised Nigerians to disregard it entirely.”
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According to the statement, “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 described the viral claim as “a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.”
The statement reiterated that news media “should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media” .
As Chief of Staff, Gbajabiamila is responsible for coordinating the activities of the Presidency, managing access to the President, and ensuring the smooth functioning of the President’s office. As Principal Private Secretary, Muri-Okunola likely handles confidential matters and provides administrative support directly to the President.
