Gbajabiamila opened up about Obasa’s crisis, saying Desmond Elliot almost lost his position as chief of staff

President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, 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 over allegations linking actor-turned-lawmaker Desmond Elliot to the controversy.

Gbajabiamila made the shocking revelation on Thursday at a stakeholders meeting in the constituency in Lagos, where he spoke openly about the race for the chairmanship involving Mudashiru Obasa and the political tensions prevailing 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 actions that undermined the stability of the leadership of the Assembly.

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

Recalling his meeting with the President, he revealed that Tinubu immediately asked about his relationship with the Surulere MP.

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

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Gbajabiamila explained that he immediately defended Elliot before the President, stressing that the lawmaker was not among those allegedly involved in political maneuvers 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 give orders,” he added.

The Chief of Staff further revealed that he immediately contacted Elliot after the meeting and warned him to stay away from the crisis if he had anything to do with it.

However, according to him, the controversy escalated a few days later after reports emerged that allegedly linked his own name to the crisis.

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

Gbajabiamila revealed that he later advised Elliot to publicly deny his involvement in the alleged plot 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 to this day he has not done that,” he said.

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

“If it wasn’t for the relationship I have with the current President, I probably wouldn’t still be here as Chief of Staff,” Gbajabiamila said.

These revelations further reveal the deep political currents surrounding the leadership crisis in the Lagos Assembly and highlight the extent to which the controversy has spread beyond the state legislature to the Presidency and the ruling political structure.