Gbajabiamila opens up on Obasa crisis, says Desmond Elliot nearly cost him chief of staff position

Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed how the political turmoil surrounding the leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly almost cost him his position in the Presidency due to allegations linking actor-turned-lawmaker Desmond Elliot to the controversy.

Gbajabiamila made the startling disclosure on Thursday during a constituency stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, where he spoke candidly about the speakership battle involving Mudashiru Obasa and the political tension that followed within the Assembly.

According to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally confronted him over reports that Elliot was allegedly involved in moves that destabilised the Assembly leadership.

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

Recalling the encounter with the President, he disclosed that Tinubu directly questioned him about his relationship with the Surulere lawmaker.

“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.

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Gbajabiamila explained that he immediately defended Elliot before the President, insisting that the lawmaker was not among those allegedly involved in the political manoeuvres against the Assembly leadership.

“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 revealed that he swiftly contacted Elliot after the meeting and warned him to stay away from the crisis if he had any connection to it.

However, according to him, the controversy escalated days later after reports allegedly surfaced linking his own name to the crisis.

“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 disclosed that he subsequently advised Elliot to publicly deny involvement in the alleged plot in order to clear the air, but expressed disappointment that 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 stated.

The former Speaker admitted that the incident placed him in a difficult position politically and could have ended his role as Chief of Staff if not for the trust and relationship he shares with President Tinubu.

“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 said.

The revelation has further exposed the deep political undercurrents that surrounded the Lagos Assembly speakership crisis and highlighted the extent to which the controversy reverberated beyond the state legislature into the Presidency and the ruling political structure.

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