Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that he nearly lost his position during the crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly over the removal of former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.
Gbajabiamila disclosed while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, where he spoke about the political controversy involving Surulere lawmaker, Desmond Elliot.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu summoned him to his residence in Abuja during the height of the Assembly leadership crisis and questioned him over allegations that Elliot was among lawmakers allegedly fueling instability in the Lagos Assembly.
ALSO READ [BREAKING] First female Speaker emerges as Lagos lawmakers impeach Obasa
Gbajabiamila said the President told him intelligence reports had linked Elliot to the anti-Obasa camp and warned that the lawmaker was “causing problems” in the Assembly. He explained that he immediately defended Elliot despite not having spoken with him at the time.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives said he later contacted Elliot and advised him to distance himself publicly from the crisis if he was involved in the dispute. However, he claimed the lawmaker failed to make a clear public statement denying involvement, which worsened suspicions around him and indirectly affected Gbajabiamila.
“Three days later, I was told there was a problem because my name was being mentioned everywhere as supporting Desmond,” Gbajabiamila reportedly said.
He added that because of his close relationship with President Tinubu, he was eventually able to survive the political storm.
“If not for the kind of relationship I had with the President, I probably would not be here today,” he said.
The Lagos Assembly crisis, which generated tension within the APC in the state, centered around attempts to remove Obasa as Speaker and install a new leadership. The controversy exposed divisions within the party and drew the attention of influential political leaders in Lagos.
