The Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has explained the circumstances surrounding his strained relationship with Lagos lawmaker, Desmond Elliot.
Gbajabiamila said the issue stemmed from the crisis that led to the impeachment and reinstatement of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, he revealed that the matter almost cost him his position, following presidential concerns over alleged involvement of Elliot in the assembly dispute.
“I almost lost my job because of Desmond Elliot last year,” he said, adding that President Tinubu personally questioned him over reports linking the lawmaker to the crisis.
Gbajabiamila explained that he initially defended Elliot, insisting he was not involved, but later discovered otherwise after further developments.
He said he later advised the lawmaker to publicly distance himself from the political tension, but that advice was not followed.
The Chief of Staff also dismissed attempts to politicise the matter along religious lines, stressing that political relationships in Lagos and within government are built on cooperation, not division.
He maintained that the controversy did not affect his relationship with the President, adding that lessons had been learned from the episode.
