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President Bola Tinubu nearly removed his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, last year over the alleged involvement of actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliot in the political crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly, Gbajabiamila has disclosed.
Speaking in a widely circulated video on social media on Thursday, Gbajabiamila narrated how Tinubu summoned him to his residence in Abuja during the speakership tussle involving Mudashiru Obasa.
“I almost lost my job as Chief of Staff last year because of Desmond Elliot. Mr. President called me to his house in Abuja during the Lagos Speaker Obasa saga,” Gbajabiamila said.
“He said, ‘I hear this Desmond is your boy, the one we gave you,’ and I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He is one of the people causing problems in the Lagos House of Assembly.”
Gbajabiamila said he defended Elliot against the allegations.
“Immediately I said to Mr. President, no, no, no. Desmond is not part of them. I haven’t even spoken to him. I didn’t know whether he was part of that. I said, no, he’s not part of them.”
According to Gbajabiamila, Tinubu responded, “I’m telling you from intelligence that he is part of them. Go and tell him to retrace his steps. This is what Mr. President told me. I said, yes, sir.”
Gbajabiamila said he called Elliot to inform him of the president’s message.
“I called him. That’s what I told him. Just like the President, this is what he said. If you are one of these people, if you are part of them, get out of there.”
He added that the Director-General of the Department of State Services also contacted him.
“Three days later, the Director General of DSS called me and said there’s a problem. Your name is being mentioned all over the place. That you are the one behind, you are supporting Desmond in this event.”
Desmond Elliot tried to get COS Femi Gbajabiamila sacked. pic.twitter.com/BM2zV9SgCS
— International Fayawo (@TheTegbe) May 14, 2026
Gbajabiamila said he told the DSS he would speak to Elliot.
“I told him, I’m going to have to talk to Desmond. He has not done anything. I called him again.”
He said he asked Elliot to issue a statement clearing himself of the allegation, which he allegedly never did.
