Prominent indigenes of Lagos State, under the auspices of the Eko Forum, have endorsed the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes‑Vivour, for next Saturday’s election. The endorsement comes as the Forum urges all Lagos indigenes and residents to vote for the Labour Party candidate, whom it describes as “a proper son of the soil.”
The Forum’s position was articulated in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Chairman, Alhaji Ismaila Williams, and General Secretary, Olawale Ogundimu, in Lagos. The decision to back Rhodes‑Vivour was taken at the conclusion of an extraordinary meeting held on Sunday. “Members of the Eko Forum from all 20 local governments as well as all 37 local council development areas met on Sunday here in Lagos,” the statement read. “Members decided to support our Rhodes‑Vivour after carefully appraising the credentials of all other candidates who have put themselves forward.”
According to the statement, the Labour Party hopeful scored highly on the indices used to evaluate the candidates, which included educational attainment, youthfulness, pedigree, and the ability to relate to issues affecting the state. The Forum called on Lagosians to discard rumours that a Rhodes‑Vivour‑led government would undermine Yoruba interests. It emphasized, “On behalf of the members of our Forum, we want to disabuse the minds of unsuspecting residents that the Igbo ethnic nationality will take over Lagos if Rhodes‑Vivour wins. The Igbo have been living with us in Lagos from time immemorial, peacefully; we have intermarried and done many things together for a long time. They have never claimed ownership of our land, so why would they now? This is cheap propaganda which our people should not fall for.”
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