Tayo Akinmade Ayinde, the erstwhile Director of Independent Campaign Group and Chairman of Transition Committee, has denied information making the round on social media that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appointed him his Chief of Staff.
Ayinde denied the report in a statement he signed on Thursday.
The statement reads:
“My attention has been drawn to a news item circulating in some quarters of the media, especially digital media, where it’s reported that I have been appointed as the Chief of Staff by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“My initial reaction was to ignore the news and treat it like other fake news that usually dies a natural death. But upon further reflection, I decided that there is need to set the record straight.
“Let me state emphatically that His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has not made any cabinet appointment. The only official assignment undertaken so far by him was taking of the oath of office and inspection of the Guard of Honour.
“Therefore, the news flying around is a lie and can only be described as beer parlour journalism.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I served as the Director General of the Independent Campaign Group and later as chairman of the inauguration committee, which remains my last assignment to date.
“Finally, I wish to implore media professionals, particularly those in online journalism to kindly verify information before publishing so as not to cause embarrassment for the subject of their news stories.”