IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – A political analyst and social media influencer Kelvin Odanz has aired his view on Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, Gbadebo Chinedu Rhodes-Vivour, ahead of the 11 March gubernatorial election.
Rhodes-Vivour also known as GRV, is a Nigerian architect, activist and politician.
The 40-year-old 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.
The Labour party candidate has been gaining momentum after the presidential candidate of his party Peter Obi lost to Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
Odanz reacted to GRV’s governorship ambition by comparing him to the State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is seeking re-election.
He tweeted: “With Peter Obi, his supporters could campaign for him by talking about his track records,his competence, his experience. And honestly you can’t even argue against that even if you don’t like PO.
“But is anyone using track record/ experience/competence to campaign for GRV?
“The only thing I see with this whole GRV conversation is anti Tinubu anger, the need to take Lagos off the grasp of Tinubu.
“And of course there is the anger around ENDSARS and the “supposed” role Sanwo-olu played in the entire thing.
“Talking about Lekki, let me provide a context Take the Naira crisis for instance. This was Buhari’s idea because he has a record of redesigning Naira. He pushed for it and defended it.
“But when the whole thing backfired, did anyone mention Buhari? No. No one in govt dared call out Buhari. Emiefele took the fall. Scapegoat.
“Same thing with what happened at Lekki. I STRONGLY believe Buhari gave the order for soldiers to go disperse the protest there. No Governor in Nigeria has authority over the military. You can’t invite or order them around. It can’t just happen. Only the President through COAS can.
“Buhari gave the order. But when it backfired, no one can in govt can point fingers at him. The President’s image needs to be protected, even by the military. So Sanwo-olu had to take the fall. Scapegoat. Take out emotions and it isn’t hard to decipher.
“When the protest started, same Sanwo-olu went to meet protesters and seek for a diplomacy. Talked to them and listened to their grievances. Everything went downhill after the shooting at Lekki.And I think he could have handled the aftermath of that crisis much better than he did.
“But somehow Sanwo-olu is unfairly fingered for the shooting at Lekki and how the protest slipped out of control. Outside of this legitimate but “misplaced” anger and the fact he is Governor by virtue of Tinubu, Sanwo-olu hasn’t done so badly as Governor of Lagos.
“Sanwo-olu has had a stellar career as a banker before public office, rising to the rank of general manage and divisional head with FCMB. He’s been in Government since 2003 I think. Served as a commissioner. So no, he wasn’t plucked from a three in Ogbomoso and then made Governor.
“If your only reason for voting him out is to take Lagos away from Tinubu, then that’s valid. Emotional decision but valid still.
“But if you’re comparing his career,experience in public and private sector with that of GRV,then there is no way any same human will take GRV over him.
“And like I mentioned last night, I’ve listened to GRV in interviews and during debate and he is just too green for Lagos. Still a rookie. No offence.
“Can’t hand over West Africa’s largest, most important economy to an experimental rookie just like that. Think am.
“And I’ve praised Sanwo-olu few times in the past. Of course he’s been at the receiving end of my criticism for other things.
“Anyway, the ultimate voting decision is for you guys who CAN vote in Lagos. Make the decision and live with the consequences. It is your call 😬
“And please, I was paid to share this opinion that obviously differs from the agenda on your TL. So please don’t waste your time coming to tell me I’ve been paid.
“Also don’t talk about corn in pocket..that is now boring. Look for something more creative. Thank you comrades.
“Add-on: When it comes to GRV, I think the whole IPOB and Biafra tweets are just too trivial. Besides, I don’t see anything wrong with them if you look at the context with which they were used closely. But the question of track record, experience,competence? That’s the real juice.”