Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has condemned the viral reports on Saturday which claimed he had resigned from office.
News circulated that Akume resigned as SGF in preparation to be named the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
However, the presidency late in the night laid to rest the rumour.
Breaking his silence, Akume blamed mischief makers for the information.
He warned that spreading of fake and unverified reports undermined institutions.
In a statement issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, signed by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information & Public Relations, it said Akume remained the SGF.
The statement reads below:
“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 rumour yesterday came amid the recent resignation of the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Those behind the fake news claimed that Hadiza Usman had been named the new SGF.