The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has dismissed as “false, misleading, and baseless” reports making rounds on social and mainstream media that Senator George Akume, CON, has been removed from his position as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
In a statement signed on Saturday by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the OSGF and obtained by Westernmirror.com.ng, the office described the claims as “a figment of the imagination of mischief makers” aimed at misinforming and disinforming the Nigerian public.
“The attention of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has been drawn to rumours circulating online and in some media outlets regarding the alleged removal of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, CON by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” the statement read.
“We wish to state emphatically that the information is entirely false, misleading, and baseless,” it added.
The office affirmed that President Bola Tinubu retains “unwavering confidence” in Akume’s capacity to continue executing his duties effectively, particularly in the implementation of policies and programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“President Tinubu reposes unwavering confidence in the capacity of the SGF to discharge his statutory obligation of formulating and implementing policies and programmes of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration,” the statement emphasized.
Calling on media outlets and the public to disregard the claims, the OSGF urged responsible journalism and due diligence in information sharing.
“We urge the public, media organisations, and digital platforms to discountenance such rumours and to exercise caution as well as verify the authenticity of information before disseminating it,” Imohiosen said.
“Spreading unverified or intentionally false narratives not only undermines public trust but also poses a threat to the integrity of our institutions,” he added
The office also aligned itself with an earlier press statement by Chief Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Strategy, which similarly debunked the rumour.
“In consonance with the earlier press release issued by Chief Bayo Onanuga, the position of this Office is clear– Senator Dr. George Akume, CON, remains the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” the statement concluded.