Presidency Denies Removal of Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff

The Presidency on Thursday dismissed as false claims suggesting that President Bola Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, with his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, described the claim as “a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.”

“There is absolutely no truth to this story. We advise Nigerians to disregard it entirely,” Onanuga stated.

The presidential spokesman emphasised that both officials remain in their respective positions.

“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,” he declared.

Onanuga urged news media to “always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media.”

Reports of Gbajabiamila’s exit gained traction on social media platforms on Wednesday, with some accounts suggesting an imminent shake-up in the Presidency’s administrative structure.

The reports followed an earlier speculation in September 2024 about a possible cabinet reshuffle that suggested Gbajabiamila might be replaced, with a former Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola, identified as a likely replacement, or alternatively, Muri-Okunola if Fashola declined.

However, no such changes materialised, and Gbajabiamila has continued to serve as Chief of Staff.

Gbajabiamila, 62, was appointed Chief of Staff to President Tinubu on June 2, 2023, shortly after the President’s inauguration on May 29.

He resigned from the House of Representatives on June 14, 2023, after serving as Speaker from 2019 to 2023 and representing Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State for six consecutive terms since 2003.

Muri-Okunola, 53, was appointed Principal Private Secretary in September 2023, having previously served as Lagos State Head of Service since December 2018.

He had also been Tinubu’s personal assistant when Tinubu was Lagos State Governor between 2003 and 2005.