Former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has declared that Lagos State does not belong to President Bola Tinubu or his long-standing political machinery.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Rhodes-Vivour accused successive administrations in Lagos of failing to deliver genuine progress, relying instead on intimidation and violence to maintain Tinubu’s grip on power.
“I don’t believe that Lagos belongs to one man. That’s why my entire movement is called Our Lagos. Lagos is our shared responsibility. Lagos is our home. And the idea that Lagos belongs to one man is something I’m completely against,” he said.
“The idea that our commonwealth can be commandeered by one man for over two decades is something that I’m against. It’s not about me. It’s not about Gbadebo. It’s about the people of Lagos. It’s about the people of Nigeria.”
He blasted the poor state of infrastructure, especially in areas like Alimosho, claiming officials are more focused on blocking opposition activities than fixing roads.
“You have local government chairmen going on inner roads that are terrible, absolutely terrible, with policemen, to prevent an opposition party from having a gathering at Lionfield in Alimosho. After 20 years, they have not made a real difference to the people they govern,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour stressed that the ruling structure’s reliance on force is proof of its failure.
“If they were giving people good quality governance, they would not be bothered by opposition. They would not be resorting to violence and intimidation.”
He concluded with a stinging verdict on Tinubu’s political dynasty.
“Like I said earlier today, violence is the last refuge of incompetence. They have not lifted people’s lives enough to use that as their campaign. Instead, they rely on violence. That in itself says everything,” he said.
