Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the 2023 governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Lagos state, has said he is not concerned about the possible emergence of Obafemi Hamzat as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.
Speaking on Saturday in Ibadan during the opposition summit, Rhodes-Vivour said Hamzat’s long stay in government works against him rather than in his favour.
“This is somebody who has been in the system for more than 20 years. Does that worry me? Why should it?” he said.
He criticised the APC-led government in Lagos, accusing it of poor governance and failure to meet the needs of residents.
“He has been part of a government that has been stealing and looting the commonwealth of our state,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour also accused the government of piling up debt and failing to address key issues such as housing and urban development.
“A government that has accumulated so much debt, that has superintended over a stinking Lagos without any affordable housing,” he said.
He further described the administration as one that frequently demolishes homes.
“A demolition government that is constantly demolishing people’s homes,” he added.
Rhodes-Vivour said Hamzat would have to account for the record of the government he has served.
“The fact that he has been in such a government works against him. He will have to answer for the failures of that government,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said growing public interest in opposition politics is a positive sign.
“People are excited about the opposition, that’s why they are challenging it,” he said.
He added that attempts to obstruct opposition efforts have not succeeded.
“But we have overcome it, and we will continue to overcome it,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour said the opposition remains focused on building stronger alliances ahead of future elections.
