Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has disclosed that he almost lost his position last year due to allegations linking actor-turned-lawmaker Desmond Elliot to the crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ gathering, Gbajabiamila recounted how President Tinubu summoned him to his residence in Abuja during the height of the impeachment saga involving former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. According to Gbajabiamila, the President confronted him with intelligence reports claiming that Desmond Elliot, whom he referred to as “your boy,” was among those fueling unrest and political problems in the state.
Gbajabiamila said he immediately defended Elliot, telling the President that the lawmaker was not involved in the alleged plot. He stressed that he had not even spoken to Elliot about the matter. However, the situation escalated when the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) contacted him, informing him that his name was being mentioned everywhere as someone supporting Elliot’s alleged activities. The DSS chief advised Elliot to issue a public statement distancing himself from the matter.
The former House of Representatives Speaker used the anecdote to warn against actions that could trigger religious divisions, particularly referencing a letter from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that he said risked pitting Muslims against Christians in the Lagos Assembly. He credited his strong personal relationship with President Tinubu for helping him survive the intense pressure, noting that without it, he might not be in his current position today.
Gbajabiamila, dressed in a pink patterned agbada and purple cap, spoke passionately while gesturing to underscore his points, with other dignitaries and attendees listening attentively. The revelation has drawn attention to the high-stakes intrigues within Nigeria’s political circles and the delicate balance of loyalty, intelligence reports, and party unity in the Tinubu administration.
