During an interview on Arise News on Thursday, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s candidate for governor in Lagos State, refuted claims made by his Peoples Democratic Party counterpart, Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (Jandor), that he was being supported by political godfathers. Rhodes-Vivour stated that his ambition to occupy the governorship seat was not backed by any godfather, despite Jandor’s allegations that he was being endorsed by prominent figures like PDP chieftain Chief Bode George.
“I fought against godfatherism in the APC, Lagos. My refusal in recognising (Chief) Bode George as a godfather in the PDP is a major reason for his endorsement of Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of LP against my candidature in the PDP,” Jandor said.
According to Rhodes-Vivour, there was no one within the LP whom he or anyone else could refer to as a godfather. He clarified that he did not have a godfather himself, and instead relied on mentors and leaders for guidance and support.
“In the Labour Party, there’s no godfather. I have no godfather. I only had mentors and leaders“. Rhodes-Vivour noted
“There were rumours of money being embezzled. Money meant for rally, elections. The narrative he brought to get the ticket was that he would bring half of the APC to add to the PDP.
“That was the story. But all of them have gone back to the APC now. Where is the value?
“He got the ticket because all the leaders of the party on national level, from Ayu, even Obasanjo supported him. And now when tables have turned, he’s talking about godfatherism.”