‘What Is Done Is Done’ Desmond Elliott Is Family, We Must Move On – Femi Gbajabiamila
Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has addressed his recent political fallout with Lagos lawmaker Desmond Elliott, saying the matter should be put behind them.
Gbajabiamila spoke at the 2026 Gbaja Mega Empowerment Programme held at the National Stadium in Lagos, where residents and beneficiaries from Surulere Federal Constituency received cash, vehicles and other forms of assistance.
His comments come weeks after a video of Elliott kneeling before him and asking for forgiveness circulated widely on social media.
Gbajabiamila: ‘We Must Move On’
Reflecting on the controversy, Gbajabiamila said the past few months had subjected him to allegations, claims and what he described as lies.
He maintained that the controversy had not weakened his commitment to his responsibilities as Chief of Staff or the duties assigned to him by President Tinubu.
“The last few months have tested me in ways I never imagined. Lies were told, stories were written, allegations were made but the people of Surulere stood by me.”
Gbajabiamila also said he had been vindicated and cleared, pointing to investigative reports that he said were already in the public domain.
Addressing the disagreement with Elliott directly, he described the Lagos lawmaker as part of the political family and called for the issue to be left in the past.
“Desmond Elliot is part of us and a member of the family. What is done is done and we must move on from it.”
Allegations Also Surround Gbajabiamila
The remarks came alongside Gbajabiamila’s response to separate allegations concerning the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
He said investigations into the matter, including one conducted by the House of Representatives, had cleared him of wrongdoing connected to the organisation.
According to Gbajabiamila, the investigations followed due process despite what he described as pressure on some individuals to condemn him before the inquiries were completed.
He also said President Tinubu had confidence in him based on their years of working together.
“Mr. President knows his Chief of Staff very well. Having worked closely with me for many years, he was therefore supremely confident that I was not in any way involved in those nefarious things.”
Gbajabiamila said the allegations would not distract him from his work at the Presidency.
“No amount of money, no amount of blackmail or lies, whether sponsored from within or outside, will detract me from my work and the work Mr. President has given me to do.”
Surulere Empowerment Programme
The comments were made during the Mega Empowerment Programme organised for residents of the Surulere Federal Constituency.
The event featured the distribution of financial assistance, vehicles and other support to beneficiaries.
For Gbajabiamila, the programme also provided an opportunity to address the political controversy publicly while reaffirming his focus on his official responsibilities.
Gbajabiamila’s comments signal a desire to close the chapter on his disagreement with Elliott and shift attention back to his political and governmental responsibilities.
While the circumstances surrounding their fallout have generated significant public interest, Gbajabiamila’s latest position is that the matter should be left in the past.
The wider significance lies in how political disagreements are managed within Lagos’s political landscape, particularly as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
Comments
This post currently has no comments.