Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, describing it as “a failure” and blaming it for what he called the worst cost-of-living crisis Nigeria has seen in four decades.
Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Lagos State during the 2023 elections, made the remarks while speaking on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics on Tuesday.
“This government ultimately has been a failure. When you talk about the quality of life, the cost of living, this is the highest cost of living crisis that Nigeria has faced in the last 40 years,” Rhodes-Vivour said on the programme.
The 42-year-old politician further decried the nation’s security situation, citing thousands of deaths across different regions of the country.
“You look at security: over 10,000 people have died in the North, and about 7,000 people have died in the South. On the international tourism index, we have gone from number 8 to number 6. You can talk of policies all you want, but if people are experiencing hardship, simultaneously, you are renovating the vice president’s residence.
“You are using money that just speaks of opulence and good living; you are spending money in the way a country whose economy is buoyant would spend money. It’s all about the people tightening their belts, but you see the government living extravagantly,” he stated.
Rhodes-Vivour also lamented the economic decline under the Tinubu government, claiming Nigeria is now ranked as the 10th poorest country in the world.
The Lagos politician said the only way the country can be salvaged is for the opposition to come together and make efforts to unseat President Tinubu.
According to him, the opposition cannot afford to divide their votes in the 2027 election like they did in 2023.
“The only way we can move this country forward as an opposition is to come together; we cannot afford to divide our votes again. If you add Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s votes to His Excellency Peter Obi’s votes, they completely take out the current president.
“So, the conversation now is we are working to put a coalition together; you are going to hear an announcement by tomorrow, next tomorrow, and everybody is coming together. That is our main focus. At that point, we can then say authoritatively this is the party we are going to run on,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour also criticised the administration of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, accusing it of prioritising self-interest over public service.
