Governorship: Igbo and the final push to capture Lagos

Sanwo-Olu

Sanwo-Olu and Rhodes-Vivour

Lagos, with a population of over 20 million is Nigeria’s most viable state. It is the commercial nerve centre of the nation and contributes over 70 percent of revenue to the national purse. The state is home to the biggest seaports in Nigeria, biggest Rice Meal in Africa, houses all major banks and conglomerates, among others.

Lagos is the home of the Aworis, Ogu, who are Yoruba. Over the years, due to its economic viability and being the nation’s former Federal Capital, it has become home to every tribes and ethnic groups in the country. Despite the relocation of the Federal Capital Territory to Abuja, the influx of non-indigenes to Lagos has continued unabated on daily basis, with attendants effect of infrastructural overstretched.

But some people have regarded Lagos as ‘no man’s land.’ How true is this? This is rubbish and unfounded, what is clear is that Lagos is home to the Yoruba. Mostly, the Igbo are laying claim to have taken over Lagos. Their large number in the state is indisputable as they inhabit places such as Amuwo Odofin, Oshodi-Isolo, Ojo, and some parts of Ajeromi Ifelodun. They are now spreading to other parts of the State.

With the February 25 presidential election, in which Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi won in Lagos, the Igbo believed that they have outnumbered the Yoruba in their State.

That is why this weekend’s governorship election in Lagos is critical. Residents of Lagos go to poll to elect a new governor who will pilot the affairs of the state for the next four years. With the triumph of Obi in Lagos, the Igbo are emboldened to change the equation again this weekend, March 18. They believe they outnumbered the Yoruba, they believe they will carry the day.

Saturday’s governorship election is simply a fight between the All Progressives Congress’s governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Chinedu Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who is playing the ethnic card.

The candidates

1. Chinedu Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

Prior to this contest, Rhodes-Vivour was a nobody, he was not even regarded as an underdog. He was doomed to fail just like he did in the two elections he vied for in the past. He lost the Ikeja Local Government election and the Senatorial election. The PDP’s governorship candidate, Jide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor was ahead of him in the scheme of things.

But there was a drastic change in the equation on 25 February, 2023, when Peter Obi, buoyed by the Igbo defeated Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Lagos, the first time since 1999. It was the biggest shock in Tinubu’s political career. With this, the fortune of Rhodes-Vivour was skyrocketed to becoming a major challenger and threat to the ‘untouchable throne’ of Lagos.

Rhodes-Vivour, with no clear vision and agender saw that he could actually win if he rides on Obi’s popularity and this is what he has been doing. He is an opportunist. He is a Lagosians, no doubt about that, but he has a mixed  blood, his mother is an Igbo woman and his wife too is an Igbo woman. He speaks Igbo fluently but he cannot speak his native language, Yoruba. The last time he tried speaking, he murdered the language, he is regarded as carrying the flag of the Igbo going into this weekend’s governorship election. In the last EndSARS protest in Lagos, he was seen carrying the IPOB flag. The Igbo are rooting for him and have vowed that they will uproot the APC from Lagos.

Rhodes-Vivour, who is playing the ethnic car has added ‘Chinedu’ to his name. He is relying on the Igbo vote to catapult him to power this weekend. But what he did not know was that it was a combination of factors that defeat the APC in Lagos during the last election. Tinubu, running on a Muslim-Muslim ticket met stiffer opposition from the Christians in Lagos and some indigenes who believe they could not work with, couple with the Igbo and EndSARS factors.

Will Rhodes-Vivour carry the day on Saturday? If he does, it will be the biggest shock of the century, even more than what happened on February 25. He is a nobody when it comes to politics, but he is catapulting and riding on the Igbo to vote him in, unfortunately, he may be disappointed on Saturday, as much has changed since the last presidential election.

2. Babajide Sanwo-Olu:

Sanwo-Olu is gunning for his second term in office. He is most favoured to emerge winner on Saturday except an upset takes place, which many political pundits don’t believe will happen even with the Obi’s factor. Sanwo-Olu has driven Lagos to greater heights leveraging on the experience he had garnered overtime. He led Lagos through the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, where Lagos was the epicentre. He completed the Pen Cinema Bridge, he completed the Blue Rail Line project, he completed the Imota Rice meal, several housing projects, initiated major transformation in the transportation system in Lagos, among others. Several major projects are ongoing in Lagos. Sanwo-Olu is seen by many as most experienced to further put Lagos on the world map.

Since the February 25 presidential election, the governor is not relenting to ensure that he wins a second term. He had met with the Igbo communities, with some endorsing him, he has met with the Hausa communities, he has met with major stakeholders and had embarked on aggressive campaign just to ensure that there will be no upset on Saturday. Many stakeholders in Lagos have endorsed his ambition. He has a better chance of winning Saturday’s poll in Lagos.

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Jide Adediran (Jandor):

Before the presidential election, Jandor was a noise maker, he was the one giving Sanwo-Olu the major headache. He attacked him at will, but the governor never took him serious, which was why he was galivanting with Tinubu all over the country because he saw him as no challenger. But Jandor’s rating has dropped drastically since Obi won the presidential election in Lagos. Rhodes-Vivour has suddenly overtaken him. He has been pegged back as the third favourite in the race.

Asides this, many PDP members have deserted him, he is running a one man show. Just yesterday, big wigs in the Lagos PDP, Ade Dosunmu and others defected to the APC with thousands of others. Another splinter group also broke away. Jandor’s rating has plummeted drastically and there is clearly no hope for him on Saturday.

What Stakeholders are saying

Less than 48 hours to the Lagos governorship, stakeholders are advocating that anyone who must govern Lagos must possess the needed experience.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika said “I lived and played in Lagos for decades, I understand and appreciate its socioeconomic and political significance to our country. It will be risky to take a chance with inexperience hands. I know stakes are high, regardless, Sanwo-Olu is the best option. Avoid sentiments, vote wisely.”

Afenifere’s leader, Pa Ayo Fasoranti urged the electorate in the State to queue behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in order to consolidate on the achievements recorded in the in Lagos.

The Afenifere leader in a press statement said Lagos is an important nation’s commercial city and the pride of the Yoruba race, saying the evolving physical and socio-economic developments of the city should not be thwarted.

He said the State would gain more under the incoming Tinubu administration than when it is in the hands of the opposition.

The elder statesman urged Lagosians not to make the mistake of buying into the gimmick of those bent on reversing the achievement Lagos had recorded.

The final battle

Saturday’s governorship election is going to be more of ethnicity. It will determine who owns Lagos, it will determine if Lagos is a no man’s land or not. The Igbo are for Chinedu Rhodes Vivour, while the Yoruba will be rooting for Sanwo-Olu to win.

Critic, Femi Fani-Kayode captured the scenario thus: “On Sat. 18th March, Lagos State will face the stiffest test & greatest challenge to its efficacy & identity since it came into existence. The question of who owns Lagos will finally be determined & the guests that seek to claim Yoruba land as their own will be put in their place.

..I urge every son & daughter of the Yoruba together with all men & women of goodwill to come out on that day and vote for @jidesanwoolu who has proved that he is not only a true omo-oluabi but also a first class leader and administrator. Eko Akete, ilu Ogbon! Eko o gba gbere!”

If Chinedu Rhodes-Vivour wins on Saturday, then the Igbo will say Lagos is a no man’s land and if Sanwo-Olu wins, the reverse will be the case, but Jandor is out of the equation.

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