Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos State just like most of the states in the country is currently preparing for its gubernatorial elections. Very much unusual in this case is that the election will be keenly contested. This is all thanks to the increased participation of the youths and the emergence of the MIT-trained architect, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour; who has presented his master plan for the centre of excellence. Read on to know more about our man of the week.
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, also known as GRV, is a Nigerian architect, activist, and politician of Yoruba descent, from Lagos State. He is the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for Lagos State in the upcoming 2023 Lagos State gubernatorial election. He was the senatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Lagos West Senatorial district in the 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Lagos State.
An architect, GRV has a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Nottingham. He also holds a Master’s degree in the same field from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Rhodes-Vivour is from a family of lawyers. He is the son of Barrister Olawale and Mrs. Nkechi Rhodes-Vivour. A former justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Bode Rhodes-Vivour is his uncle; while the late Judge Akinwunmi Rhodes-Vivour is his grandfather. He is the great-grandson of Steven Bankole Rhodes, the second-ever indigenous judge appointed in Nigeria.
“Under my administration, we will prioritize raising the standard of living of all Lagosians while also providing the highest levels of transparency and accountability”
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
Lagos Gubernatorial Elections and GRV’S Master Plan
The Not Too Young To Run Legislation signaled a new wave of political participation in Nigeria. A legislation that GRV was one of the first beneficiaries of. The current state of the country and subpar governance by the ruling class has heralded a new form of active participation of youths in governance. This participation is at its peak in this year’s 2023 general elections.
The solid plans of the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his track record, and other factors endeared the youths to him. This attraction and belief have led to a series of positive upturns in Nigeria’s political space, from the massive votes polled by the LP’s candidate to the emergence of the party’s candidates in the last elections.
What are we to expect from GRV?
In Lagos State, the situation is the same where Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour; gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party is receiving widespread recognition and acceptance ahead of the governorship polls. Asides from the increased participation of young people, GRV is armed with his credentials and sound mind. He presents as the preferred candidate for the young population; (most of whom were attracted to him, in part because of his participation at the 2020 nationwide #EndSARS protest, in the quest for justice and an end to police brutality), who going by the results of the last presidential election, can cause a massive upturn in the elections. GRV has promised to run an open and transparent government. He plans to increase the minimum wage, and reduce the burden of taxation among other plans.
Gbadebo, a true Lagos native with deep roots, aspires to utilize his passion for justice, commitment to service, and advocacy skills to advocate for the affairs of the cosmopolitan city of Lagos. His governance pillars include accountability, reducing governance costs, developing the youth, promoting agriculture, addressing insecurity, creating jobs, promoting urbanization, diversifying culture, and even improving housing. “The Architect of a new Lagos” has presented a grand master plan for the centre of excellence, as an acceptance and recognition of his ability to deliver on these promises, he has received acknowledgment from the youths and people of great political and academic standing.