Actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliot has publicly apologized to Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, as he moves to squash rumors of a bitter political feud in Surulere.
Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, made the emotional appeal during a live appearance on TVC’s popular talk show, Your View. Addressing Gbajabiamila directly, the lawmaker described the former House of Representatives Speaker as his political mentor and sought forgiveness for any past friction.
“Our leader is a compassionate leader. Children sometimes err. If I have erred in any way, my leader, I am sorry,” Elliot pleaded.
The ‘Plot’ That Almost Cost Gbajabiamila His Job
The public apology follows a stunning revelation by Gbajabiamila, who recently disclosed that the political infighting within the Lagos State House of Assembly nearly cost him his role as Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
According to Gbajabiamila, President Tinubu had summoned him to address intelligence reports linking Desmond Elliot to a plot aimed at destabilizing the state assembly. The crisis centered around a speakership tussle involving the current Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa. Gbajabiamila noted that he fiercely defended Elliot at the time, telling the President that the lawmaker was not part of any such conspiracy.
Looking Ahead to a Fourth Term
Reacting to the drama, Elliot strongly denied participating in any plot to disrupt the Lagos Assembly. He insisted that his loyalty to Gbajabiamila remains ironclad and dismissed media reports suggesting a deep-seated rift between them.
Political analysts view the public reconciliation as a strategic move by Elliot to secure his political base. The lawmaker openly used the media appearance to drum up support for his fourth-term ambition in the Lagos State House of Assembly, a bid that heavily relies on the backing of Surulere’s political kingpins.
Despite the recent waves, Elliot assured supporters that his long-standing political relationship with the Chief of Staff is completely intact.
