Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, has narrated how he almost lost his job because of Surulere constituency 1 lawmaker Desmond Elliot's involvement in the Lagos State House of Assembly crisis.
Gbajabiamila Recounts Tinubu's Warning
In a viral video from a meeting with All Progressives Congress (APC) members, Gbajabiamila said President Tinubu had called him during the impeachment saga of the then-Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. The president told him that Desmond Elliot was among those causing problems in the Assembly and instructed Gbajabiamila to warn the actor-turned-politician to retrace his steps.
Gbajabiamila, however, told the president that Elliot was not part of the group, although he had not spoken to him to confirm. “I just said he wasn’t,” the Chief of Staff said.
Gbajabiamila's Intervention Fails
Gbajabiamila said he called Elliot and advised him to withdraw from the crisis if he was involved. Unfortunately, Elliot “started cutting corners.” Three days later, Gbajabiamila was informed that his name was being mentioned in connection with supporting Elliot. “Of course, the president will not believe Desmond will do such a thing and I will not know,” he stated.
He called Elliot again, urging him to issue a public statement disassociating himself from the controversy, but nothing positive came out. “If not for the kind of relationship I had with the president, I wouldn’t be here today,” Gbajabiamila said, emphasizing that he narrowly avoided losing his job.
