Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos, has said the state does not belong to President Bola Tinubu or his political structure.
Speaking during a television interview on Sunday, Rhodes-Vivour accused successive administrations in Lagos of failing to deliver quality governance, insisting that their dominance has been sustained through “violence and intimidation” rather than service to the people.
“I don’t believe Lagos belongs to one man. That’s why my entire movement is called Our Lagos. Lagos is our shared responsibility, our home. The idea that our commonwealth can be commandeered by one man for over two decades is something I am completely against,” he said.
The LP chieftain criticised the neglect of infrastructure in areas such as Alimosho, alleging that local government officials are more focused on stifling opposition than improving residents’ lives.
“You have local government chairmen moving around with policemen on terrible inner roads just to stop an opposition party from gathering at Lionfield in Alimosho. After 20 years in power, they have made no real difference,” he stated.
Rhodes-Vivour added that if governance had been effective, politicians would have no need to suppress rivals.
“Violence is the last refuge of incompetence. They have not lifted people’s lives enough to use achievements as their campaign. Instead, they rely on violence — and that alone says everything,” he concluded.