Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said the political crisis surrounding the Lagos State House of Assembly nearly cost him his position following allegations involving Desmond Elliot, a lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency 1.
Gbajabiamila made the remarks in a viral video during a meeting with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he recounted conversations with President Tinubu during the impeachment controversy involving former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
Okay News reports that Gbajabiamila said President Tinubu contacted him during the crisis and accused Elliot of being among lawmakers allegedly involved in actions destabilising the Assembly.
“He is part of the people causing problems in Lagos Assembly. I am telling you from intelligence that he was part of them. Go and tell him to retrace his steps,” Gbajabiamila quoted the President as saying.
The Chief of Staff said he initially defended Elliot despite not having spoken to him directly about the allegations at the time.
“I just said he wasn’t,” Gbajabiamila said.
He added that he later contacted Elliot and warned him to distance himself from the controversy if he was involved.
Gbajabiamila, however, said the lawmaker failed to handle the situation properly.
“Unfortunately, he started cutting corners,” he said.
According to him, the development later escalated to the point where his own name was allegedly linked to the crisis because of his relationship with Elliot.
“Three days later, I was called that there was a problem as my name was being mentioned all over the place, stating I was supporting Desmond,” he said.
Gbajabiamila said he urged Elliot to publicly clarify his position on the matter but claimed no meaningful response emerged from the effort.
He also said his long-standing relationship with President Tinubu played a role in preserving his position amid the controversy.
“If not for the kind of relationship I had with the president, I wouldn’t be here today,” he said.
