Presidency Clarifies: Gbajabiamila Remains Tinubu’s Chief of Staff

by: Abudu Olalekan

The Presidency has issued a sharp denial to viral reports claiming Femi Gbajabiamila was replaced. A statement calls the story a fabricated falsehood. Here’s the latest.

So yeah, that rumor going around? The one saying Femi Gbajabiamila got the boot? Completely false. The Presidency just shut it down. Hard.

Here’s what happened. Thursday, social media starts buzzing. Whispers and then shouts that President Bola Tinubu had replaced his Chief of Staff. That the former Speaker of the House was out. That his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, was moving up. It spread like wildfire, you know how these things do.

Well, the Palace wasn’t having it. Not one bit. Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, he stepped in with a statement. The clarification was blunt. No room for misunderstanding.

“The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to a viral falsehood,” the statement began. It called the report exactly that—a falsehood. Circulating on social media. Suggesting the replacement. Then came the direct hit: “There is absolutely no truth to this story. We advise Nigerians to disregard it entirely.”

Strong language. Clear as day.

Onanuga laid it out point blank. “The Chief of Staff remains in his position. The Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role.” He emphasized, “Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff.” It was a line-by-line takedown of the gossip.

But the statement didn’t stop at just denial. It got a bit fiery. It accused the sources of being “mischievous purveyors of fake news.” Said their sole aim was to “create disharmony within the government.” That’s a serious charge. It frames the rumor not as a simple mistake, but as an act of sabotage. Political sabotage, maybe.

And then, the classic plea to the media. A line we hear often but seems increasingly ignored: “We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media.” It’s a reminder in an age where speed often tramples accuracy. Where a catchy headline gets more clicks than a corrected fact.

This whole episode, it’s revealing. It shows how fragile the information ecosystem is. A single unfounded report can trigger a mini-crisis. Force the highest offices to respond. Distract from actual governance. It creates a buzz of uncertainty. People start wondering, is there smoke? Maybe there’s fire somewhere? Even after a denial.

For Gbajabiamila, it’s gotta be an annoying distraction. One day you’re doing your job, the next you’re supposedly out of one. For Muri-Okunola, equally awkward. Placed in a rumor he didn’t ask for. For the administration, it’s a nuisance. Having to use official channels to swat down baseless claims.

The reaction was swift though. Which suggests the Presidency is watching. They’re monitoring the chatter. And they’re willing to respond quickly to stamp out narratives they see as harmful. It’s a form of reputation management. Controlling the story before it spirals.

In the end, the status quo holds. Gbajabiamila stays. Muri-Okunola stays. The structure of the President’s inner office remains unchanged. At least for now. But the incident leaves a trace. A reminder of the tensions and speculations that swirl around power. How every position, especially one as central as Chief of Staff, is subject to intense scrutiny and gossip.

So, what’s the lesson? Maybe to pause before hitting share. To check that source. Or maybe it’s just another Thursday in Nigerian political discourse. Where rumors fly fast, and denials have to fly faster.

Reportersroom can confirm the official line is one of stability. No change at the top. The machinery grinds on. But for a few hours, the rumor mill certainly had its fun.