Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that he almost lost his position during the political crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly over the speakership tussle involving Mudashiru Obasa.

Gbajabiamila made the disclosure on Thursday during a constituency stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos while addressing the controversy surrounding actor-turned-lawmaker Desmond Elliot.

Tinubu Confronted Me Over Desmond Elliot

According to Gbajabiamila, President Tinubu personally summoned him to Abuja during the peak of the Assembly crisis over allegations linking Desmond Elliot to moves aimed at destabilising the Lagos Assembly leadership.

“I almost lost my job because of Desmond Elliot last year. You can go and verify,” he said.

He explained that the President questioned him directly because of his close political relationship with the Surulere lawmaker.

“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,” Gbajabiamila stated.

I Defended Him Before Tinubu

The Chief of Staff said he immediately defended Elliot before the President, insisting that the lawmaker was not among those allegedly involved in attempts to destabilise the Assembly leadership.

“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.

Gbajabiamila disclosed that after the meeting, he reached out to Elliot and warned him to avoid being linked to the crisis in any way.

“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 Says Elliot Ignored Advice

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives further claimed he instructed Elliot to publicly deny involvement in the alleged impeachment plot, but the lawmaker failed to do so.

“I told Desmond to go and make a public statement that he was not part of them, but till today he has not done that,” he stated.

Gbajabiamila added that his long-standing relationship with President Tinubu eventually helped him survive the controversy.

“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 said.

Fresh Political Battle Looms

The revelation comes amid reports that Gbajabiamila is backing Barakat Odunuga-Bakare against Desmond Elliot ahead of the next political contest for the Surulere constituency seat under the ruling APC.

The Lagos Assembly crisis surrounding Mudashiru Obasa generated widespread political tension within the APC and sparked debates over power struggles within the party structure in the state.