Lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, has dismissed reports suggesting a breakdown in his relationship with the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Pidgin on Tuesday, Elliot said there is no strain in his political relationship with Gbajabiamila, insisting that he remains loyal to both him and President Bola Tinubu despite speculation of internal disagreements.
He maintained that democracy should not be misinterpreted as a system where authority is openly challenged, stressing that political misunderstandings should not be blown out of proportion.
“We are in a democracy and not a military regime. The names of President Tinubu and Gbajabiamila are too big for me,” he stated.
Describing Gbajabiamila as a mentor and political superior, Elliot said their relationship remains intact, noting that occasional disagreements are normal in human interactions.
“I don’t only have a relationship with Gbajiabiamila. He is my boss. I’m loyal to him, and he loves me like a son. In life, even between father and son, there can be small issues once in a while, and people settle it,” he stated.
He also said he was not expecting any third party to intervene in resolving any perceived disagreement, adding that such issues are usually settled naturally between them.
“I’m not waiting for anybody to settle anything. A child can apologise to the father, and the father will calm down when he is ready. But it is not the child that will tell the father when to calm down,” he said.
Elliot reiterated that he would not abandon Gbajabiamila regardless of political tension.
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“God forbid that I will leave my father. The president can call me and say, ‘Boy, that is not you,’” he added.
On questions relating to wider political tensions within the Lagos State House of Assembly, he declined to comment extensively, saying it was beyond his scope.
“That one is beyond my power. I don’t think I should answer questions like that. Let me focus on what concerns me,” he said.
He said his priority remains strengthening support for the All Progressives Congress at the grassroots and ensuring President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
“What concerns me now is how to make the people of Surulere happy so they will continue to support my party. When they support my party, we will bring my president back for a second term so he can leave a legacy,” he said.
Elliot added that the ongoing political atmosphere has strengthened his faith.
“The good thing about all this is that it has brought me closer to God. You cannot do this work without God,” he stated.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the APC and Tinubu’s second-term ambition after the primaries, saying he remains fully aligned with the party’s goals.
“I’m still a party member. I will follow my party. My prayer is that President Bola Tinubu returns as president. I want him to leave a legacy that will amaze people,” he said.