Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that his appointment as Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu almost did not happen due to political resistance allegedly linked to Lagos lawmaker and actor-turned-politician, Desmond Elliot.
Gbajabiamila said the process leading to his emergence as Chief of Staff was not smooth, noting that his nomination faced pushback from some political stakeholders who were not fully in support of the decision. He explained that the disagreement became strong enough at a point that it nearly cost him the appointment.
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According to him, discussions around the role were marked by intense political lobbying and competing interests, with various voices influencing the final decision-making process. He added that Desmond Elliot’s involvement in the wider political environment at the time was part of the factors that contributed to the controversy surrounding the appointment.
Despite the resistance, Gbajabiamila stated that the matter was eventually resolved through top-level intervention, allowing his appointment to be confirmed as Chief of Staff to the President. He described the experience as a reflection of the competitive nature of Nigerian politics, where high-level appointments often attract pressure and negotiation from different political actors.
His remarks shed light on the behind-the-scenes tensions that sometimes shape key government decisions, highlighting how influential figures within the political space can affect outcomes at the highest level of leadership.
