‘I Almost Lost My Job Because of Desmond Elliot’ — Gbajabiamila Reveals How Obasa Impeachment Crisis Nearly Cost Him Tinubu’s Trust

Ikeja, Lagos State– Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and current Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed how the political crisis surrounding the alleged impeachment plot against Mudashiru Obasa nearly cost him his position in the Presidency due to the alleged involvement of Nollywood actor-turned-lawmaker Desmond Elliot.

Gbajabiamila made the revelation during an interaction with his constituents and political supporters in Lagos State, where he narrated how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally confronted him over reports linking Desmond Elliot to the controversial Lagos Assembly leadership crisis popularly referred to as the “Obasa Saga.”

Speaking candidly before the gathering, Gbajabiamila said the situation became so serious that he feared he could lose his position as Chief of Staff because President Tinubu believed Elliot was politically close to him.

“I almost lost my job as the Chief of Staff last year because of Desmond Elliot. You can go and verify with him,” Gbajabiamila stated.

According to him, the President summoned him to his private study in Abuja at the peak of the crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“Mr. President called me to his study in his house in Abuja during the Obasa saga,” he recounted.

“I hear this Desmond Elliot is your boy, the one we gave to you,” the President allegedly told him.

Gbajabiamila said he immediately acknowledged knowing Elliot but denied any involvement by the Surulere lawmaker in the alleged anti-Obasa moves.

“I said, ‘Yes sir.’ He said, ‘I hear he is part of the people causing problems in the Lagos House of Assembly.’”

“I told Mr. President, ‘No, no, no, no, no. Desmond is not part of that. I hardly speak with Desmond.’”

The Chief of Staff explained that at the time, he was uncertain whether Elliot was actually involved in the political maneuvering against Obasa, but he still defended him before the President.

“I said, ‘No, he’s not part of that.’ But Mr. President replied, ‘Well, I’m telling you from intelligence that he is part of that. Go and tell him to retrace his steps.’”

Gbajabiamila said he immediately contacted Elliot after leaving the President’s residence.

“I called Desmond. I said, ‘Desmond, how many ears do you have?’ I just left the President and this is what he said. If you are one of these people, if you are part of them, get out of there.’”

However, he claimed the lawmaker failed to give him a straightforward response.

“He started giving excuses and dribbling me,” Gbajabiamila said.

The matter reportedly escalated further three days later when the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) allegedly contacted him over intelligence reports linking his name to the Assembly crisis.

“Three days later, the Director General of DSS called me. He said, ‘Chief, there’s a problem. Your name is being mentioned all over the place that you are the one behind this and that you are supporting Desmond Elliot in this event.’”

Gbajabiamila said the allegations became dangerous because the President was unlikely to believe Elliot could be involved in such activities without his knowledge or backing.

“Of course, Mr. President will not believe that Desmond will do such a thing and I will not know about it,” he said.

The former Speaker added that he informed DSS officials that he had already warned Elliot to distance himself from the crisis.

“I told DSS that I had called Desmond and he promised to withdraw his steps and that he had not done anything.”

He said he once again reached out to the lawmaker and instructed him to publicly deny involvement in the political crisis.

“I called him again. I said, ‘Desmond, go and make a public statement that you are not part of this. Go and make a public statement.’”

Gbajabiamila lamented that despite his warnings and interventions, Elliot allegedly failed to publicly clear the air.

“Till tomorrow,” he said, implying that no such statement was ever issued.

The Chief of Staff further disclosed that the crisis almost permanently damaged his standing within the Presidency and that only his longstanding relationship with President Tinubu saved him from possible political consequences.

“If it was not that I had the kind of relationship I had with Mr. President, I probably would not have been here today,” he stated.

Gbajabiamila also accused Desmond Elliot of allegedly introducing religious sentiments into local politics within their constituency, describing the development as unprecedented in his decades-long political career.

“I’ve been in the political process for over 25 years. I’ve never heard of where people bring religious division into our constituency,” he said.

He further alleged that Elliot had been quietly escalating tensions between Muslims and Christians while simultaneously communicating formally with party leaders.

“But Desmond will be getting calm and be writing official letters to me and to the party, forcing division between Muslims and Christians,” Gbajabiamila added.