Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has revealed that he has engaged a tutor and mastered Yoruba sufficiently to deliver campaign speeches in the language as he seeks the African Democratic Congress governorship ticket for the 2027 election.
Responding to a presenter’s greeting on Arise TV on Thursday with “Mo ki gbogbo yin,” he acknowledged the significance of cultural heritage while maintaining that tackling local developmental issues remains his primary objective.
The former Labour Party candidate, who finished third behind Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Abdul-Azeez Adediran in the 2023 race, faced intense political scrutiny over his maternal Igbo ancestry and limited linguistic fluency during his previous campaign. Having admitted at the time that he could not think in Yoruba due to his international education and upbringing, his heritage became a focal point of debate, though political allies such as Afenifere and Eko Forum robustly defended his Lagosian roots.
Reflecting on the ongoing infrastructure problems plaguing the state, Rhodes-Vivour stressed that issues such as flooding, severe traffic congestion, and the housing crisis impact every resident equally regardless of their background. He stated that “everybody is going to experience the failure” of systemic breakdowns and reiterated his determination to deliver a functional, dignified city for all Lagosians.