Gbajabiamila says he nearly lost Chief of Staff job over Lagos Assembly crisis involving Desmond Elliot

The Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that he almost lost his position over the political crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly during the speakership tussle involving Mudashiru Obasa.

Gbajabiamila made the disclosure on Thursday at a constituency stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, where he addressed the controversy surrounding actor-turned-lawmaker Desmond Elliot.

According to him, President Tinubu summoned him at the height of the crisis and questioned allegations linking Elliot to efforts aimed at destabilising the Lagos Assembly.

“I almost lost my job because of Desmond Elliot last year. You can go and verify. The President invited him to his residence in Abuja during the Obasa saga and confronted him over reports linking Elliot to the crisis,” Gbajabiamila said.

He explained that the President specifically asked him about Elliot’s alleged involvement in the matter.

“Mr President called me to his study in Abuja and said, ‘I hear this Desmond is your boy.’ I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He then said Desmond was among those causing problems in the Lagos State House of Assembly,” he added.

Gbajabiamila said he defended the Surulere lawmaker, insisting Elliot was not part of those allegedly involved in the political plot.

“I told the President that Desmond was not part of them, but the President insisted and told me to call him to order,” he stated.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives further disclosed that he later contacted Elliot and warned him to distance himself from the crisis if he had any involvement.

However, he said the situation escalated shortly after, as reports allegedly linked his own name to the controversy.

“Three days later, the Director-General called me and said there was a serious issue, that my name was everywhere as the person supporting Desmond to push for impeachment,” he said.

Gbajabiamila added that he instructed Elliot to publicly clarify his position, but said the lawmaker did not do so.

“I told Desmond to go and make a public statement that he was not part of them, but till today he has not done that,” he stated.

He concluded that his relationship with President Tinubu ultimately helped him retain his position as Chief of Staff despite the political storm.