The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has firmly denied widespread rumours suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has relieved Senator George Akume of his duties as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The clarification was issued following the circulation of the false claims across social media platforms and some online news outlets.
In an official statement released on Saturday, the Director of Information and Public Relations at the OSGF, Mr. Segun Imohiosen, strongly refuted the claims, describing them as completely unfounded and deliberately crafted to mislead the public.
“The attention of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has been drawn to rumours currently circulating on social and online media alleging that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has removed Senator George Akume, CON, from his position as SGF,” the statement read.
It further stated that there is no truth whatsoever to the claim, emphasising that the President has not made any such decision and has no intention of removing Senator Akume from office.
“The report is entirely false and without any merit. It is the handiwork of mischief makers whose aim is to deceive and misinform the unsuspecting public,” the statement continued.
Reaffirming the administration’s confidence in Senator Akume, the OSGF emphasized that President Tinubu maintains absolute trust in Akume’s capacity to carry out his duties effectively.
According to the statement, the SGF continues to play a pivotal role in the implementation of government policies, particularly in advancing the objectives of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“President Tinubu reposes unwavering confidence in the competence and commitment of Senator Akume to fulfil his constitutional responsibilities and drive forward the implementation of key government initiatives,” the OSGF noted.
In further support of the OSGF’s position, the statement echoed a similar rebuttal earlier issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Strategy, Chief Bayo Onanuga, who had also dismissed the report as fictitious.
The OSGF called on media organisations, digital platforms, and the general public to disregard the rumour and to exercise responsibility by verifying information before disseminating it.
“We urge the public and media practitioners to refrain from spreading unverified or deliberately misleading narratives. Such actions undermine public confidence and threaten the credibility of our democratic institutions,” the statement warned.
The OSGF categorically stated that Senator Dr. George Akume remains the duly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and any suggestion to the contrary should be treated as a deliberate act of disinformation.