Desmond Elliot, a lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly, has broken his silence after Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said he almost lost his job because of the role the lawmaker played during the Assembly leadership crisis involving Mudashiru Obasa, news. ng reports.
Recall that in January 2025, Obasa, who is the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, was impeached but was later reinstated.
Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, had accused Elliot of being part of the lawmakers who plotted the removal of Obasa.
Elliot explained that during the period Obasa was impeached, he was out of the country for a family engagement, and when he returned, he was made to believe that the impeachment notice against the Lagos speaker was from the president. It was later discovered that it was not from him, which led to the Speaker’s reinstatement.
But Elliot, a former Nollywood actor, responding to the accusation, said he was surprised that the president’s chief of staff, whom he referred to as his leader, would accuse him of such an act.
He said, “I cannot look at the face of my leader whenever it comes to things like that. I listen very intently at his advice and whatever he tells me. Yes, he spoke to me.
“We spoke at that period during the time. And whatever he told me, I took to the house. Because I told him it would be very cowardly of me to single-handedly leave a bunch of 36 people or 37 people and move to another side without taking the chunk of people.
“So, I told the chunk of people that this is what I heard, you know, at that point in time. And you see, because it’s a matter that has been dead and buried. Mr President says it’s over.
“It’s over is it’s over. So, for my leader to bring the issue up at this political time, I think is somewhat quite surprising to me. Especially with the kind of regard and respect that I have shown him in almost all my projects.”
On the level of respect he has for Gbajabiamila, Elliot noted that he has always considered him first regarding the development of the constituency.
He added, “Everybody in Surulere knows I have put my leader first in it. I’ve put him first in everything from the football competition to lag rides to power, to whatever it is. I always make sure my leader comes first.
“I’m always second to it because, or third, because I see leadership as one day you will be there. And I do that with pride. Even when people say, why do you always do this? I say it doesn’t matter.
“He is the leader of Surulere. That you must accord to him. So, when I’m seen like being thrown under the bus, you know, at this point in time, for an issue that has been dead and buried.
“Mr President has said everything is gone. It’s over. Revert to the status quo.
“Everybody move as you are. And we’ve been moving like that for over a year plus. So, revisiting that situation is not something I think I want to revisit.”
Watch the clips:
