Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has come down hard on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing it as “a failure” and blaming it for plunging Nigerians into their worst hardship in decades.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics, the Labour Party chieftain said the government has not improved the lives of ordinary citizens.
“This government ultimately has been a failure,” he said. “When you talk about the quality of life, the cost of living — this is the highest cost-of-living crisis Nigeria has faced in the last 40 years.”
Rhodes-Vivour ran as Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Lagos in the 2023 elections. He has remained vocal on governance issues since then.
Security Failures and Lavish Government Spending
Rhodes-Vivour accused the government of ignoring the suffering of Nigerians while focusing on wasteful luxuries.
He pointed to the grim security situation in the country. “You look at security: over 10,000 people have died in the North, about 7,000 have died in the South,” he said.
He questioned the government’s priorities, comparing widespread poverty to the opulence of government renovations.
In the following months, we must be extremely serious, exceptionally organised and laser focused. No amount of APC propaganda can feed the hungry, create employment or alleviate the suffering our people are going through.
— Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (@GRVlagos) July 2, 2025
We must build out a robust winning structure. We have all… https://t.co/PISxm6l5jL pic.twitter.com/81G8pPDlJ6
“You can talk of policies all you want, but if people are experiencing hardship while the government is renovating the vice president’s residence, it says everything.”
The 42-year-old politician also criticised public spending during a time of hardship. “You’re spending money in a way that only a buoyant economy should. Meanwhile, the people are suffering,” he said.
He claimed Nigeria is now ranked as the 10th poorest country globally — a sharp contrast to the image of prosperity the government tries to project.
Call for Opposition Unity Ahead of 2027 Elections
Rhodes-Vivour warned that unless the opposition unites, the next general election may be another missed opportunity for change.
“The only way we can move this country forward is for the opposition to come together,” he declared.
He urged parties to learn from 2023, when a divided front helped the ruling party secure victory.
“If you add Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s votes to Peter Obi’s votes, they completely take out the current president. We can’t afford to divide our votes again,” he postulated.
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