Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that he almost lost his position during the political crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly over the speakership tussle involving Mudashiru Obasa.
Gbajabiamila made the disclosure on Thursday during a constituency stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos while addressing the controversy surrounding actor-turned-lawmaker Desmond Elliot.
According to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, President Bola Tinubu summoned him to Abuja at the peak of the Assembly crisis over allegations linking Elliot to efforts to destabilise the Lagos Assembly.
“I almost lost my job because of Desmond Elliot last year. You can go and verify,” Gbajabiamila said.
He explained that Tinubu questioned him directly over reports that Elliot was among lawmakers allegedly involved in moves against the Assembly leadership during the Obasa speakership saga.
“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 stated.
Gbajabiamila said he immediately defended the Surulere lawmaker, insisting that Elliot was not part of the group allegedly fueling the crisis.
“I told the President that Desmond was not part of them, but the President insisted and told me to call him to order,” he added.
The Chief of Staff further disclosed that he later contacted Elliot and warned him to avoid any involvement in the political turmoil if the allegations were true.
According to him, the situation escalated days later when he reportedly received information suggesting that his own name had been linked to alleged impeachment moves within the Assembly.
“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 stated that he subsequently advised Elliot to publicly distance himself from the alleged plot, but claimed the lawmaker failed to 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 said.
He, however, noted that his longstanding relationship with President Tinubu ultimately helped him retain his position.
“If not for the kind of relationship I have with the President today, I probably would not still be here as Chief of Staff,” Gbajabiamila added.
Elijah Adeyemi
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