Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, says he almost lost his job over Desmond Elliot, lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The issue between the duo had been discussed in political circles before it became public after Elliot declared his interest for a fourth term.
Asked if there was any rift with Gbajabiamila, his strong supporter, the lawmaker said, “Our leader is a compassionate leader. A leader of thought. We are children. Children sometimes err. If I have erred in any way, my leader, I am sorry. Give me another chance, and let’s move on, and let’s bring more dividends of democracy to the people. Although he has not said that I have erred, I’m just saying that if I have, then this is the situation.”
Gbajabiamila during a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, on Thursday, traced the issue with the actor turned politician to the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly.
Majority lawmakers in the assembly had removed Obasa, longest serving speaker in the assembly, accusing him of high handedness, among other infractions.
But following high-powered intervention, Obasa got back his position and is currently on his way to the National Assembly.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, on Thursday, the President’s Chief of Staff said Tinubu summoned him over the involvement of Elliot in the assembly crisis.
“I almost lost my job because of Desmond Elliot last year. You can go and verify. The President invited him to his residence in Abuja during the Obasa saga and confronted me over reports linking Elliot to the crisis.
“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.
Gbajabiamila said he defended the lawmaker without knowing that Elliot was involved in the plot.
“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 former Speaker of the House of Representatives further disclosed that shortly after the meeting, he contacted Elliot and warned him to steer clear of 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 said after this, he reached out to Elliot again, asking him, this time around, to issue a public statement, distancing himself from the plot.
The Chief of Staff said the lawmaker failed to do so.
“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.
Accusing Elliot of attempting to whip up religious sentiment, Gbajabiamila told the party faithful that political office holders related freely regardless of religious background.
He narrated how the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) wrote him a letter to make a case for Elliot.
The President’s Chief of Staff said religious sentiment has no place in the constituency as people work together harmoniously.
