African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour, has dismissed suggestions of a disagreement between him and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, following the political differences between Obi and the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Rhodes Vivour said his political focus remained firmly on Lagos State and that his relationship with Obi would not be affected by developments involving the two politicians at the national level.
The former Labour Party governorship candidate said his decision to remain with the ADC meant that he would support the party and its presidential candidate as the 2027 general elections approach.
Rhodes Vivour said he had no personal problem with Obi, despite the different political paths now being taken by Obi and Atiku.
He explained that his first responsibility was to the people of Lagos and that his political decisions would always be guided by what he believed was in the best interest of the state.
“I have no issues whatsoever with His Excellency Peter Obi, regardless of what happens at the top level. My first priority and my first love is Lagos State, and I must always make decisions based on Lagos first,” he said.
The Lagos politician also reflected on his earlier political journey, noting that he had previously found himself within the same political camp as both Atiku and Obi.
According to him, the political relationship between the two men has changed over the years, with their roles shifting from one election cycle to another.
“The first time I ran for Senate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was a presidential candidate; His Excellency Peter Obi was his vice president,” Rhodes Vivour recalled.
He pointed out that the political arrangement later changed, with Atiku and Obi eventually running separate presidential campaigns in a subsequent election.
Atiku remains my presidential candidate
Rhodes Vivour said his current position within the ADC was clear, stressing that Atiku remained his presidential candidate and that he would work to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I’m in the ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is my presidential candidate, that’s where I am, so we are going to do everything we can for our party as the ADC,” he said.
While declaring his support for the party’s presidential candidate, he also encouraged Nigerians to make their own choices at the polls based on who they believe can move the country forward.
He further called for an electoral system in which the wishes of voters are properly respected and every legitimate vote is allowed to count.
“Nigerians should vote for who they believe is going to take them forward, and let’s ensure as a people that our voices are heard, and our votes count,” he said.
Lagos is not a no man’s land
Rhodes Vivour also addressed the long standing description of Lagos as a “no man’s land”, firmly rejecting the claim.
According to him, Lagos has never been a no man’s land, and he questioned the logic behind such a description, particularly when it comes to ownership and the sale of land within the state.
“Lagos has never been a no man’s land,” he said.
He further asked how Lagos could be described in such terms when people who claim to own land in the state are able to sell or transfer those properties to others.
“If it’s no man’s land, who are they buying the land from?” he asked.
Rhodes Vivour described the claim as deeply offensive, saying it went beyond a disagreement over politics or history and touched on his own ancestral roots.
“But for anybody to say Lagos is a no man’s land, that’s a very big insult. It’s an insult not just to me, it’s an insult to my ancestors,” he said.
