In a candid moment that has sent shockwaves through political circles, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu has opened up about the rocky relationship between himself and actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The tension began to unfold as Elliot announced his intention to run for a fourth term, prompting whispers of discord. When asked about their relationship, the lawmaker gracefully acknowledged the situation, stating, “Our leader is a compassionate leader—a leader of thought. We’re like children; we sometimes err. If I have made a mistake, I’m sorry. Allow me another chance so we can focus on bringing more dividends of democracy to our people.” Though he didn’t confirm any wrongdoing on his part, his plea was clear: he wanted to mend fences.
However, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, Gbajabiamila painted a vivid picture of the crisis between Elliot and the Lagos House of Assembly, which escalated following the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa—the assembly’s longest-serving Speaker, who faced accusations of high-handedness and various infractions. Thanks to a powerful intervention, Obasa reclaimed his position and is now on a trajectory toward the National Assembly.
Reflecting on a tense encounter with the President, Gbajabiamila recalled, “I almost lost my job because of Desmond Elliot last year. You can fact-check that.” He recounted how President Tinubu summoned him over Elliot’s alleged role in the assembly turmoil. “The President called me to his study in Abuja and said, ‘I hear this Desmond is your boy.’ To which I responded, ‘Yes, sir.’ But then he raised concerns, telling me Desmond was part of the problem in the Lagos State House of Assembly.”
With his loyalty to Elliot on the line, Gbajabiamila defended his ally without realizing Elliot’s involvement in the conspiracy. “I insisted Desmond wasn’t part of it, but the President urged me to reel him in,” he added.
Following this pivotal confrontation, Gbajabiamila reached out to Elliot, urging him to stay clear of the brewing crisis. Yet, just days later, he received a call from the Director-General, informing him that his name was being circulated as the one backing Elliot in the impeachment plot. The urgency of the situation prompted another outreach to Elliot, this time insisting he publicly disavow any ties to the controversy.
Unfortunately, as Gbajabiamila revealed, Elliot failed to act. “If not for the strong bond I share with the President today, I might not even be here in my role as Chief of Staff,” he admitted.
Accusing Elliot of trying to exploit religious sentiments for political gain, Gbajabiamila reassured party members that collaboration among political figures transcends religious boundaries. He illustrated this by recalling how the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had even sent him a letter advocating for Elliot.
Ultimately, Gbajabiamila emphasized that harmonious cooperation is vital within the constituency, regardless of faith, reiterating the need to keep politics inclusive and united.
