The 2023 governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has said that he received the approval of LP’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, before joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He recently revealed that Lagos State cannot be “pocketed by one man,” and Nigerians have been reacting.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Rhodes-Vivour shared that a Peter Obi representative was at the declaration event on Saturday.
According to him, he and Obi are perfectly aligned when it comes to political matters, and he does not take any step without keeping him informed.
He stated that regardless of where opposition members are at the moment, the aim is to unite, through a coalition, to wrestle power from the APC in 2027.
“Yes. Certainly. A representative of his was at the declaration on Saturday. Peter Obi and I are communicating, we are aligned. There is no step I am taking that he is not aware of. We have all agreed that the only way for the opposition to have a successful election is through a coalition. Regardless of where anybody may be at this time, we are working towards that aim,” he said.
On whether he can go against President Bola Tinubu’s political structure in Lagos, Gbadebo maintained that the idea that Lagos State belongs to one man is something he’ll always oppose.
He concluded by saying that Lagos leaders are too busy trying to frustrate the opposition instead of delivering good governance to hungry and angry residents.
“I don’t believe that Lagos belongs to one man. That is why my movement is called Our Lagos. Lagos is our shared responsibility; it is our home. The idea that Lagos belongs to one man is something I completely reject. The idea that our commonwealth can be commandeered by one man for over two decades is something I stand against.
It is not about me; it is about the people of Lagos and Nigeria. Look at Alimosho Local Government — the inner roads are terrible. Instead of fixing them, local government chairmen go around with policemen to prevent the opposition from holding gatherings on Lion Field.
If they provided good governance, they wouldn’t be worried about the opposition or resorting to violence and intimidation. Violence is the last refuge of politicians,” he added.
