The Presidency has moved swiftly to quash a false and misleading report that spread across social media platforms, confirming that Femi Gbajabiamila remains the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Official Statement Dismisses Fabricated Report
In a firm statement released on Thursday, 25 December 2025, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, addressed the viral claim head-on. He described the report alleging that President Tinubu had replaced Gbajabiamila with the Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, as a complete fabrication.
Onanuga urged all Nigerians to disregard the claim in its entirety, stressing that it did not originate from any official government source. He provided a clear clarification on the roles of both senior officials, confirming there has been no change in the leadership or structure of the Office of the Chief of Staff.
No Reshuffle in Presidential Villa
The Presidency explicitly stated that Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila continues to serve as Chief of Staff to the President. Simultaneously, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola remains in his established role as Principal Private Secretary. Both officials are discharging their duties as originally assigned, with no reshuffle or replacement having taken place.
This official denial aims to put to rest any speculation about instability or sudden changes within the top echelons of the Presidential Villa.
Condemnation of Mischief and Call for Media Responsibility
The Presidency strongly condemned the circulation of what it termed deliberate falsehoods by mischief-makers. It accused these actors of seeking to create confusion and sow discord within the government, particularly through the abuse of popular social media platforms.
Furthermore, a caution was issued to:
- Media organisations
- Online content creators
- The general public
The statement urged them to refrain from amplifying unverified claims. It emphasised the importance of always seeking confirmation from credible and authoritative sources before publishing or sharing any information.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accuracy, and orderly governance, the Presidency vowed to continue promptly addressing and correcting any misinformation capable of misleading the public or undermining confidence in government institutions.
