Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed how the political crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly almost cost him his position in government.
Gbajabiamila made the revelation during a constituency stakeholders’ meeting held in Lagos on Thursday, May 14.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives explained that tensions rose during the controversial leadership battle involving former Lagos Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.
Meanwhile, the crisis reportedly dragged several political figures into the spotlight, including actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliot.
According to Gbajabiamila, President Tinubu personally confronted him over allegations linked to Desmond Elliot’s involvement in the crisis.
Recalling the tense moment, Gbajabiamila said the President summoned him to his private study in Abuja.
“I hear this Desmond is your boy,” Tinubu reportedly told him during the meeting.
The Chief of Staff explained that he immediately defended the Surulere lawmaker.
He insisted that Elliot had no connection to any attempt to destabilise the Lagos Assembly leadership.
However, the President reportedly remained unconvinced after receiving intelligence reports on the matter.
Gbajabiamila said Tinubu then instructed him to “call him to order.”
Furthermore, the situation reportedly became even more serious days later.
According to him, the Director-General of the Department of State Services later contacted him over the same issue.
The DSS boss allegedly informed him that his own name had started appearing in discussions surrounding the political tension.
The Chief of Staff stated that he was accused of backing Desmond Elliot in an alleged impeachment plot within the Assembly.
Consequently, Gbajabiamila said he quickly reached out to Elliot and advised him to stay away from the controversy.
He also instructed the lawmaker to publicly deny the allegations surrounding the crisis.
However, he claimed the actor-politician failed to release any statement distancing himself from the matter.
In addition, the comments have renewed attention on the intense power struggle that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly earlier this year.
Gbajabiamila also admitted that his long-standing relationship with President Tinubu played a major role in protecting 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,” he admitted.
Meanwhile, the disclosure has added another layer to conversations surrounding political influence and internal battles within Lagos politics.
