The Presidency has dismissed claims of Senator George Akume’s removal as SGF, calling the reports false, misleading, and the work of mischief-makers

Akume’s removal as SGF has been firmly denied by the Presidency, which described circulating reports as false and deliberately misleading.

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The statement was issued late Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Onanuga clarified that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is currently on an official visit to Saint Lucia, has made no changes to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation position.

The statement aimed to put an end to growing rumours that Senator George Akume had been removed from office.

“There has been no change in the status of His Excellency, Senator George Akume, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” Onanuga stated.

The Presidency identified the source of the rumours as “agents of mischief” and warned the public not to be misled by disinformation. Onanuga noted that the claims were unfounded and urged Nigerians to trust only official government communication.

“The information circulating about Akume’s replacement is untrue. Agents of mischief fabricated it,” he said.

The statement followed hours of speculation on social media that Akume had been replaced, prompting confusion and concern among supporters and political observers.

Senator Akume, a former Governor of Benue State and one-time Minister of Special Duties, was appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation in June 2023.

Since his appointment, he has played a central role in coordinating executive policies and ensuring the implementation of presidential directives within the federal bureaucracy.

In his closing remarks, Onanuga reiterated the Presidency’s position and called for responsible reporting. “The Presidency advised Nigerians to disregard the fake news,” he said.

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The clarification brings to a close a wave of online speculation and reaffirms Akume’s position as a key figure in the Tinubu administration.