Lagos Assembly: Inside Gbajabiamila, Elliott’s face-off in Surulere

By Dapo Akinrefon & Ebunoluwa Sessou 

THE fourth term ambition of Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot to represent Surulere 1 Constituency in the Lagos State House Assembly is not sitting well with Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, and this has caused a wide gulf between them.

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Already, Gbajabiamila has thrown his weight behind the immediate past Lagos Special Adviser on Housing, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, to replace Elliot, which he said was part of a decision to encourage women and gender inclusion.

However, the decision did not go down well with Elliot, who is determined to prove his popularity during tomorrow’s House of Assembly primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

How Tinubu shunned lobbyists pushing for Elliot’s 4th term

The move by Elliot to secure a 4th term suffered a setback as President Bola Tinubu was said to have rebuffed appeals from powerful individuals sent to him regarding Elliot’s 4th term bid at different times.

It was gathered that pleas for the President to override the decision of Surulere APC stakeholders, who had thrown their weight behind Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, fell on deaf ears.

Sources disclosed that the embattled lawmaker reportedly dispatched a retired General, his wife, a Senator; a current serving Minister and an ally of the President, at different times to “make his case at the Villa.”

Each of them reportedly failed to get Tinubu’s nod for Elliot’s 4th term bid as the President insisted on respect for internal democracy.

In each of the separate engagements, it was gathered that “Tinubu’s position did not waver.”

He told those who came that the decision by the majority of Surulere stakeholders and that he had no intention of going against his Chief of Staff, Gbajabiamila, who he described as the GAC Leader in Surulere and a pillar of Surulere’s development for years.

The President reportedly went further to explain that the direct primary election will “indicate who commands popular control of Surulere APC politics, not external influence.”

“If the people who carried Desmond for 12 years can no longer defend him, that says everything about the boy’s character and performance,” the President was quoted as saying during one of the meetings.

Elliot begs Gbajabiamila

Elliot, who seems determined to secure a 4th term ticket on the APC platform, has begged Gbajabiamila for forgiveness.

Speaking after picking up his nomination form to seek re-election for the Surulere Constituency 1 seat ahead of the 2027 polls, the actor-turned politician said: “Our leader is a compassionate leader. A leader of thought. We are children. Children sometimes err. If I have erred in any way, my leader, I am sorry. Give me another chance, and let’s move on, and let’s bring more dividends of democracy to the people.

“Although he has not said that I have erred, I’m just saying that if I have, then this is the situation.”

Defending his bid for a fourth term, Elliot said experience in the legislature translates to more benefits for constituents.

I almost lost my job because of Elliot — Gbajabiamila

Elliot’s plea may have fallen on deaf ears as the President’s Chief of Staff, last Thursday, disclosed that he nearly lost his position over the political crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly during the speakership tussle involving Mr Mudashiru Obasa.

Gbajabiamila made the revelation during a constituency stakeholders’ meeting held in Lagos, where he spoke on the controversy surrounding actor-turned-lawmaker, Mr Desmond Elliot.

According to him, President Tinubu had summoned him during the height of the Assembly crisis and questioned him over allegations that Desmond Elliot was involved in moves to destabilise the House.

“I almost lost my job because of Desmond Elliot last year. You can go and verify. The President invited him to his residence in Abuja during the Obasa saga and confronted him over reports linking Elliot to the crisis.

“Mr President called me to his study in Abuja and said, ‘I hear this Desmond is your boy.’ I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He then said Desmond was among those causing problems in the Lagos State House of Assembly,” he stated.

He said he immediately defended the Surulere lawmaker, insisting that Elliot was not part of those allegedly working against the leadership of the Assembly.

“I told the President that Desmond was not part of them, but the President insisted and told me to call him to order,” he added.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives further disclosed that shortly after the meeting, he contacted Elliot and warned him to steer clear of the crisis, if he was involved in any way.

“Three days later, the Director-General called me and said there was a serious issue, that my name was everywhere as the person supporting Desmond to push for impeachment.

“I told Desmond to go and make a public statement that he was not part of them, but till today he has not done that,” he stated.

He added that his long-standing relationship with President Tinubu ultimately saved his position.

“If not for the kind of relationship I have with the President today, I probably would not still be here as Chief of Staff,” Gbajabiamila said.

I’m being intimidated — Lawmaker

Accusing some APC leaders in Surulere of intimidation, political victimisation and attempts to manipulate the party’s forthcoming primaries, the embattled lawmaker alleged that party members were being coerced and threatened to support a preferred aspirant ahead of tomorrow’s primaries.

Elliott claimed that some local government officials had allegedly been removed from their positions because of their support for him, describing the situation within the Surulere APC as unfair and troubling.

“Intimidation, coercion, twisting and forcing people to follow their candidate is what exists today in Surulere. “Telling them that they will not be beneficiaries of some empowerment that is coming some other time. Please, this is not done and should not be done”, he alleged.

He further alleged that the local government leadership openly backed another aspirant long before the primaries, adding that he initially chose to remain silent despite the alleged bias.

“It is bad enough that the LGA and the local government already took a side months ago. The local government has already taken a side to support a particular aspirant.

“They were shocked to have seen the quantum number of people and supporters that we’ve had and who have followed us because they believe in justice and fair play,

“My security aide was taken away from me for reasons best known to them. Now I am left alone to myself. What have I done?” he queried.

Despite his complaints, the embattled lawmaker said he would accept the outcome of the primaries if the process is free and fair.

“By the grace of God, if I, Desmond Olusola Elliott, win, Alhamdulillah. If I lose, I will throw my support behind the winner. But please let it be under a free and fair election,” he said.

Why I dumped Elliot — Koye, Campaign DG

The tide seems to be swinging against Elliot as the Director General of his 4th Term Campaign Organisation, Mr Bless Koye, has thrown his weight behind Mrs Barakat Akande Odunuga.

In a viral video, Koye, who was seen addressing his supporters, said he has directed his team to work for Odunuga.

He said: “I have instructed my group that I would decamp from Desmond’s group to the Barakat group. By the grace of God, you will begin to see changes.”

5 aspirants step down for Odunuga-Bakare

Ahead of the APC primary elections, Odunuga-Bakare’s chances received a major boost as five other aspirants withdrew from the race and declared their support for her candidacy.

The aspirants who withdrew from the race include: Dipo Jaji Adeniyi Afolaolajuwon, Biyi Attoyebi and Afeez Odunewu. 

Speaking at the official declaration and unveiling of her agenda held at The Staple on Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, on Sunday, the aspirants said their support for Barakat was based on their conviction in her capacity to deliver quality representation.

The aspirants urged their supporters to vote en masse for the aspiration of Mrs Odunuga-Bakare.

Kabiru Lawal on Desmond

Former lawmaker, Kabiru Lawal, has thrown his weight behind Desmond, describing his leadership as service rooted in sincerity and openness.

“We who love Desmond Elliott need a lot of prayers because we do not have what it takes to face the situation on the ground. Is it money or connections that we have like them?

“But God can turn a powerful person into a coward if He so wills, and that is what we rely on, that God will turn cowards into powerful men, given our plain hearts.

“They say the ticket was taken from Kabiru Lawal for Desmond, and at that time, Kabiru was doing quite well. It is true, but there was a reason for it.

“Most people who knew Desmond knew him through television. He was not a politician then, so nobody knew what it would produce for us. But today, I say boldly that Desmond, who came into office then, has performed better than Kabiru Lawal.

“There is nothing I want from you that the leader cannot give me ten times over, but I think about my children, my grandchildren and the day I will meet my creator.

Speakership

Lawal added, “God also allowed me to serve in the Assembly, and I know how things are done there. They have selected a governor from the East, and from reliable sources, the deputy governor will come from the West. It is now time for the Speaker to come from the Central.

“Even if Desmond is not chosen as Speaker, with the position God has placed the leader in today, coupled with his connections and influence, he can ensure that the position comes to Surulere.

“Even if we forget about the speakership, someone who has served in the Assembly from the first to the fourth term becomes a power broker in that House.

“Our appeal to the leader is to extend the love he has always shown Surulere by supporting Desmond because, with his support, Surulere stands to benefit more than having a neophyte in the Assembly.

“Barakat is already in the cabinet. Let her remain there and allow Desmond to go for one more term, after which it can end.”

Elliot should be given ticket — Lawal, ex-lawmaker 

Meanwhile, Elliot’s predecessor at the Assembly, Mr Kabiru Lawal, has thrown his weight behind the actor-turned lawmaker, describing his leadership as service rooted in sincerity and openness.

Lawal said: “We who love Desmond Elliott need a lot of prayers because we do not have what it takes to face the situation on the ground. Is it money or connections that we have like them?

“But God can turn a powerful person into a coward if He so wills, and that is what we rely on, that God will turn cowards into powerful men, given our plain hearts.”

In addition, the former lawmaker said: “God also allowed me to serve in the Assembly, and I know how things are done there. They have selected a governor from the East, and from reliable sources, the deputy governor will come from the West. It is now time for the Speaker to come from the Central.

“Even if Desmond is not chosen as Speaker, with the position God has placed the leader in today, coupled with his connections and influence, he can ensure that the position comes to Surulere.

“Even if we forget about the speakership, someone who has served in the Assembly from the first to the fourth term becomes a power broker in that House.

“Our appeal to the leader is to extend the love he has always shown Surulere by supporting Desmond because, with his support, Surulere stands to benefit more than having a neophyte in the Assembly.

“Barakat is already in the cabinet. Let her remain there and allow Desmond to go for one more term, after which it can end.”

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