LAGOS, Nigeria – Popular Nollywood actor turned politician, Desmond Elliot has publicly apologised to his political mentor and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over a high-stakes feud that almost cost the presidential aide his job.
Appearing on the popular television programme Your View on Friday, Mr Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, admitted to friction in their relationship but insisted any offence caused during recent political manoeuvring was entirely unintentional.
The public contrition follows a period of intense internal fighting within the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) over the control of the Lagos State House of Assembly leadership.
The Presidency Confrontation
The strain between the two politicians escalated into a major crisis after Mr. Gbajabiamila revealed that his position at the presidency had been jeopardised by intelligence reports linking Mr. Elliot’s political activities to a speakership tussle in Lagos.
According to party insiders, President Bola Tinubu had directly confronted Mr Gbajabiamila over allegations that his protégé was orchestrating moves that went against the party’s preferred leadership structure.
“To err is human, to forgive is divine. So I’m sorry, my daddy, if I’ve offended you in any way,” Mr. Elliot said during the broadcast, using highly deferential local terms. He described Mr Gbajabiamila as his egbon—an elder brother—under whose guidance he learned the ropes of Nigerian politics.
Apologies to Surulere Power Brokers
Mr. Elliot did not stop at patching things up with the President’s chief of staff. He also extended his apology to local party influential figures in his constituency, stating, “To the matriarch of Surulere, mama, I’m sorry if I’ve offended you.”
The lawmaker acknowledged that the media would likely sensationalise his public remorse but defended his decision as necessary for reconciliation.
Eye on the Ball
Despite the political drama, Mr. Elliot used the platform to defend his legislative record as he navigates internal party friction ahead of upcoming political cycles.
“I will keep keeping the party strong,” he insisted. “And to all Surulerians, my scorecard is there. You know the things I’ve done to make Surulere a better place.”
The crisis in the Lagos Assembly has now been resolved by the intervention of the party’s top leadership. However, the televised apology of Mr. Elliot is a reminder of the balancing act politicians must perform in Nigeria’s commercial capital, where local assembly politics routinely echo all the way to the presidential villa in Abuja.
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