By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Few days to the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, the Labour Party Presidential flagbearer, Peter Gregory Obi has said that the party’s Lagos state governorship candidate, Architect Gbadebo Patrick Rhodes-Vivour is the best man to transform the state of aquatic splendour at this time to a modern city which the people of the state will be proud to call their own.
This is even as he has debunked the insinuation that he won the presidential election overwhelmingly in Lagos state because of the large population of the Igbos in Lagos, arguing that he was voted by indigenous Lagosians, Ijaws and people from all the ethnic groups in Nigeria leaving in Lagos.
Obi who was a guest of Arise News programme ‘The Morning Show’ monitored in Abuja on Monday, said Labour Party is lucky to have a good candidate in the Lagos state
governorship race, pointing out that Rhodes-Vivour is highly qualified to be the Governor of Lagos state at this time of the state’s history.
Said he: “Lagos state Labour Party candidate, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is the best man for the job. He is a true Lagosian and very credible. He is from a noble family and his educational background is top notch. Above all, Gbadebo has character, capacity, compassion and competence to govern Lagos better”.
On the talks that the Labour Party candidate is too young and may not have the experience to govern a state like Lagos, Obi said Gbadebo is at the right age to lead the state, adding that at 40 years and without experience in public service, he became the Executive Governor of Anambra state hence Gbadebo with his level of education has what it takes to govern Lagos.
“He is at the right age, he has sound educational background and has been in both private and public lives for sometime. So, I believe this the right time for him to serve because he has energy for the work. Those saying that he lacks experience are not correct. Gbadebo can do the job”, Obi insists.
Meanwhile, the former Anambra state governor, has poured cold water on the arguments that he swept votes in Lagos during the presidential election because of the large population of Igbos in Lagos. He said he was massively voted for by various ethnic groups that live in Lagos.
Said he: “I have many people supporting me in Lagos state and across Nigeria, they are not Igbos. Like in Lagos, those who voted for me on February 24 presidential election are not only Igbos. They are indigenous Lagosians, Yorubas, Ijwas and people from all the ethnic groups in Nigeria who live in Lagos.
“How many Igbos are in Lagos, if I may ask. It’s not all about the Igbos here, after all, those who voted for me in Plateau and Nasarawa states, are they Igbos? If not the manipulations in Rivers state, I won there too. Are they Igbos? Nigerians know me and what I stand for, which are character, capacity, compassion and competence, this is why they voted for me and they did not make any mistake because a New Nigeria Is Possible”.
On the allegations by some persons that he rode on the back of ethic, religious platforms and may have rigged the Presidential election in the South East to have scored highest votes there, Obi said those accusing him now are not truthful to themselves.
According to him, how can someone who did not have a councillor nor members of House of Assembly, Representatives and Senators, not to talk of knowing any Division Police Officer (DPO), now have opportunity to rig election across Nigeria, although he said he is surprised he did not score 100% votes in his home state of Anambra.
“I can tell you that I don’t know any INEC man or any DPO to influence the elections. I have not rig election before and will never rig. For those questioning how was able to score high votes in Anambra and South East, they should come let us walk the streets in Onitsha where I leave. I am even surprised I did not score 100% votes in Anambra.
“The same thing in all South East states because the people know me and what I stand for hence they voted for me. The Ignos have always done what they think is right and fair. In 1999 and 2003 South East gave Obasanjo 90% of votes that made him President. The Yorubas did not vote for him.
“Also, South East gave Jonathan the highest votes than his South South geopolitical zone.
The same thing the Igbos did for MKO Abiola in 1993, he got his highest votes in Igbo land even when his running mate, Babagana Kingibe was from the North. This was even when a respect Igbo son was ran with the NRC flagbearer Bashir Tofa as Vice Presidential candidate yet Igbos voted for Abiola. This is to tell you how the Igbos support candidates from other zones”, Obi posited.
