By Kolawole Ojebisi
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has dismissed reports making the rounds that he has been relieved of his duties by President Bola Tinubu as “entirely false and misleading” adding that it was fabricated by mischief makers.
Akume reacted to the rumour of his sack in a statement issued the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and signed by its Director of Information & Public, Relations, Segun Imohiosen, on Sunday.
The statement read: “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 Office wishes to state emphatically that the information is entirely false, misleading, and lack any basis in fact, as Mr. President has no any intention of doing so.
“The purported removal of the SGF from Office is only but a fabrication and a figment of the imagination of mischief makers who are out there to disinform and misinform the innocent public.
“President Tinubu reposes unwavering confidence on 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.
“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 as spreading unverified or intentionally false narratives not only undermines public trust but also poses a threat to the integrity of our institutions.
“Congruously, the previous press statement issued by the SA to Mr. President on Media and Strategy, Chief Bayo Onanuga resonates in no small measure the position of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on this matter.
“Therefore, Senator George Akume, remains the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”
The statement was made to quash the rumour which dominated all social media platforms on Saturday that Tinubu had sacked Akume and appointed the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala Usman as his replacement.