Don’t Use Oro To Threaten Protesters – Gbadebo

Former Lagos State Labour Party governorship candidate, Gbedebo Rhodes-Vivour, has advised against using the traditional Yoruba ritual, Oro, to threaten protesters. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of assaulting Yoruba traditional institutions. He said the Yoruba are known for justice and fairness through upholding their traditions. Gbadebo’s statement on Thursday followed an announcement on the Lagospedia X handle, on Wednesday. The handle announced that traditionalists in Lagos have fixed Oro to hold from August 1 to 15. Lagos State government was accused of sponsoring the Oro event to shun the planned “EndbadgovernanceinNigeria” protest slated on August 1. Gbadebo said, “The campaign by APC propaganda handles to use ORO – a sacred ritual in Yoruba land – to threaten protesters is an assault on our traditional institution. Casualizing centuries of a hallowed ritual with such juvenile intent debases our culture and corrupts our revered institution. “The Yoruba are obsessed with Justice and fairness, not only as a guiding principle but also as a defining feature. It explains why, although the subjects recognize their king as an authority second only to the gods, the community does not tolerate high-handedness on the part of the king. Whenever they perceive such, there is bound to be a protest.” He said while he supports peace and patience from the youths, the right to peaceful assembly must be respected by traditional leaders. “I urge patience and restraint from our youth but defend their right to peaceful assembly. More importantly, I call on our respected traditional leaders to condemn our tradition’s desecration and guard our revered institutions jealously,” he added.

Rhodes-Vivour’s Running Mate Resigns From Labour Party

Princess Islamiyat Abiodun Oyefusi, the Labour Party’s deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, has officially resigned from the party.  Oyefusi conveyed her decision in a letter addressed to her ward chairman, expressing gratitude to Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour for the political opportunity as his running mate. The resignation, outlined in the letter, stated, “I can no longer see myself aligning with the current values of Labour Party or as a member of Labour Party, and the time has come for me to move forward.”  Oyefusi highlighted the past 10 months of her political career as interesting and thanked supporters across Lagos State and Nigeria for their dedication during the 2023 electioneering period. Looking ahead, she expressed optimism about collaborating with her team and supporters in the future to work towards shared goals, emphasizing the vision of freeing Lagos from one-party politics and contributing to a better Nigeria. 

Tribunal Victory: Jandor, Rhodes-Vivour Should Join Me In Building Lagos -Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgement as a victory for all Lagosians, even as he called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Abdulazeez Adediran, and Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, to join hands with him in building Lagos. Sanwo-Olu said this while addressing newsmen at the State House in Ikeja, after the11-hour judgment by a three-man panel led by Justice Arum Ashom at the Roseline Omotosho Court, Ikeja, Lagos. The panel in its unanimous decision, dismissed the two petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate Abdulazeez Adediran, and Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, his Labour Party counterpart. The governor lauded the judges for doing a good job, adding that they gave a well thought out and detailed judgment. Sanwo-Olu said the verdict was a call to greater service while assuring that his government would continue to work harder to deliver dividends of democracy to the people “It was a long, tough process but we are grateful that the voice of people of Lagos was heard and upheld. “The deputy governor and I are very privileged and thankful to residents for standing for and by us. It is a victory for all, no winner, no loser. “It is, however, an opportunity for more work and service. Therefore, we will continue to work harder to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people,” he said. The governor called on other candidates to join hands together to build a Lagos of their dreams. According to him, “l extend, again, an olive branch to my fellow contestants to join us in building the Lagos of our dreams. “If they have the passion to serve, we can work together because there is room for everyone to contribute meaningfully to the Lagos we all desire to see.” Reacting, Mr Olagbade Benson, Senior counsel to the Labour Party (LP) candidate, said the tribunal in his wisdom had delivered the judgment to the best of their knowledge. He advised all members of the party to stay calm and respect the rule of law. “The tribunal has done their part and we cannot ask for more. Therefore, we encourage every member of the Labour Party and all OBIdients to stay calm and obey the rule of law.” The tribunal chairman, Justice Arum Ashom in his lead Judgment had dismissed the petition filed by Rhodes-Vivour on grounds that it lacked merit. On the oath of allegiance to the United States of America by the deputy governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, the tribunal held that being a citizen of Nigeria by birth, his oath of allegiance to United State does not prevent him from contesting election. The tribunal, therefore, affirmed the declaration of INEC of the election of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat as the governor and deputy governor duly elected. On his part, reacting to the judgment, Mr Austin Akpomreta, defense counsel to the PDP governorship candidate explained that the next line of action would be taken after reviewing the judgment with his client. The election petition tribunal had also declared as dead on arrival, a petition of Adediran against Sanwo-Olu’s election. The tribunal held that evidence before it showed that the petition lacked merit. Adediran had contended that Sanwo-Olu was wrongfully nominated and sponsored by the APC and, therefore, was not qualified for the election. However, Justice Mikail Abdullahi, while reading the tribunal’s decision on the matter, held that the position did not form part of the grounds for disqualification for election into the office of a governor, under Sections 177 and 182 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended). The tribunal also declared that it had no powers to inquire into the primary election of the APC which produced Sanwo-Olu, adding that the issue was a pre-election matter which did not fall under its jurisdiction.  

Tribunal: Rhodes-Vivour closes case against Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat

The Lagos State Labour Party governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has closed his case against the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the March 18 governorship election before the election tribunal sitting in Ikeja. The Labour Party governorship candidate is also challenging the eligibility of Hazmat to contest on the grounds that he allegedly renounced his Nigerian citizenship and swore allegiance to the United States of America. At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the petitioner’s counsel, Mr Idowu Benson, informed the three-justice tribunal headed by Arum Ashom that the petitioner was closing his case. Ten witnesses had testified in the petition of the LP candidate. The counsel also tendered a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the INEC Form EC9 – an affidavit containing the particulars of a candidate – which was hand-filled by Hamzat and had been front-loaded by the counsel for the fourth respondent, All Progressives Congress (APC), before the tribunal. All the counsel for the four respondents objected to the admissibility of the document tendered by the petitioner. The tribunal, however, admitted the document into evidence and marked it as Exhibit PE713. The APC counsel, Mr Noris Quakers (SAN), said the CTC tendered by the petitioner was warehoused by the first respondent and did not form a part of the court records. “It is not a document before this tribunal. “It is only a document signed by the Independent National Electoral Commission that can be tendered. “We will further argue on why this document should not be admitted in the final written address,” he said. The INEC counsel, Mr Eric Obigor, informed the tribunal that he would pick a date to open their defence while commending the petitioner for closing his case. The tribunal ordered that the first respondent should open his case on the next adjourned date but he prayed the court for more time to put his house in order. “We will be taking a date to open our case and commend the petitioner for closing its case even though it was unexpected. “At the moment, for me to secure the attendance of my witness, I can not get them by tomorrow. “I will need to do consultations with the stakeholders of my client. “A day will enable me to put my house in order,” Obigor said. Counsel to Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat, Mr Bode Olanipekun (SAN), also commended the petitioner for closing its case while stating that they should have taken the wise retreat earlier. The proceedings were stalled on Monday due to the health reasons of an LP witness. The tribunal had on Monday adjourned the proceedings due to the ill-health of a witness scheduled to testify in favour of Rhodes-Vivour. Benson had mentioned that the witness was in court but had to leave for treatment before proceedings commenced. The tribunal adjourned until July 5 for INEC to open its defence.