Gbajabiamila: I Nearly Lost My Job Over Lagos Assembly Crisis
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that he “nearly lost” his job during the political crisis that engulfed the Lagos State House of Assembly following the controversial impeachment and reinstatement of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
Gbajabiamila made the disclosure while speaking at a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Lagos, where he reflected on the intense political pressure that surrounded the leadership tussle in the state legislature.
‘I almost lost my job’
He said his alleged association with developments in the Assembly crisis placed him under scrutiny at the highest levels of government, adding that the situation almost cost him his position as Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the issue became more complicated due to the involvement of Lagos lawmaker Desmond Elliot, who he said was linked to the unfolding political tensions.
“I almost lost my job as chief of staff last year because of Desmond Elliot. He’s alive today; you can go and verify with him,” Gbajabiamila said.
He explained that President Tinubu personally summoned him to his residence in Abuja during the height of the crisis and allegedly mentioned Elliot among those connected to the political situation in the Lagos Assembly.
Gbajabiamila said he defended Elliot at first, insisting he was not aware of any wrongdoing, but later contacted the lawmaker directly to caution him and advise him to stay away from any impeachment-related activities.
Security scrutiny and DSS involvement
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives further disclosed that the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) later reached out to him, informing him that intelligence reports suggested he was backing Elliot in the alleged impeachment plot.
He maintained that he denied any involvement and reiterated that he had no knowledge of such plans.
“Of course, the president will not believe that Desmond will do such a thing, and I don’t know about it,” he said.
Gbajabiamila added that he again urged Elliot to publicly distance himself from the crisis, but said the lawmaker declined to do so.
‘I wouldn’t be here today’
He stressed that his continued position in government was only possible because of his relationship with the President, suggesting that the situation could have ended his tenure.
“If it were not that I had the kind of relationship I had with the president, I wouldn’t be here today,” he said.
Allegations of political and religious tension
Gbajabiamila also accused Elliot of contributing to political and religious tensions in his constituency, Surulere, alleging that his actions had created divisions between Muslim and Christian communities.
He further referenced internal disputes within the APC in Surulere, where stakeholders had accused his political camp of attempting to influence local party arrangements, including the alleged imposition of a preferred female aspirant for the Lagos State House of Assembly seat.
Background to Lagos Assembly crisis
The crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly began when Mudashiru Obasa was impeached over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office. The deputy speaker at the time, Mojisola Meranda, was elected to replace him, making history as the first female Speaker of the Assembly.
However, Obasa rejected his removal and challenged the process in court. After weeks of political tension, Meranda stepped down, and Obasa was reinstated following political interventions.
Subsequently, the court later nullified the proceedings that led to his initial removal, further deepening the controversy surrounding the leadership tussle.
The remarks by Gbajabiamila add fresh insight into the behind-the-scenes political pressure and high-level interventions that shaped one of Lagos State’s most significant legislative crises in recent years.
Source: TheCable
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