Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, has disclosed that his position was almost jeopardized because of the 2025 political crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly. Speaking at a constituency stakeholders' meeting in Lagos on Thursday, May 14, Gbajabiamila recounted a tense confrontation with the President during the speakership tussle involving Mudashiru Obasa.
President's Summons
The conflict centered on reports linking Surulere lawmaker and former actor Desmond Elliot to moves aimed at destabilizing the House. According to Gbajabiamila, President Tinubu summoned him to his study in Abuja and questioned Elliot's role. 'I hear this Desmond is your boy,' Tinubu reportedly said, alleging that Elliot was among those causing problems in the Assembly.
Defending Desmond Elliot
Gbajabiamila immediately defended Elliot, insisting the lawmaker was not involved in any plot against the House leadership. However, the President remained skeptical, citing intelligence reports, and directed Gbajabiamila to 'call him to order.' The situation escalated three days later when the Director-General of the Department of State Services contacted Gbajabiamila, informing him that his own name was being cited as the influential figure backing Elliot to push for an impeachment.
Warning and Public Statement
Gbajabiamila stated that he subsequently warned Elliot to distance himself from the crisis and instructed him to issue a public statement denying the allegations. However, the lawmaker reportedly failed to do so. Ultimately, the Chief of Staff credited his long-standing personal relationship with President Tinubu for saving his job. '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 admitted.
Internal Power Struggles
The revelation sheds new light on the internal power struggles of 2025, which saw Speaker Mudashiru Obasa briefly ousted before being reinstated with the President's intervention. The incident highlights the delicate political dynamics within the Lagos Assembly and the influence of key figures in the state's political landscape.
