The African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Lagos, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has faced backlash from netizens after he tried to address an audience in Yoruba language.
At The Platform event held recently, Rhodes-Vivour was asked to tell the audience how he intends to preserve the Yoruba language, culture and heritage of Lagos State if he eventually governs the state.
The young lady who put the question forward to the governorship candidate spoke in Yoruba, leaving the audience expecting Rhodes-Vivour to respond in the same language.
When Rhodes-Vivour tried to answer in English, the audience expressed their displeasure, forcing him to speak in Yoruba, which he struggled to do. This happened weeks after he granted an interview in which he said he had been learning how to speak Yoruba.
Reacting, an X user, @Sistaliano, said, "He just committed political suicide. He has dealt a devastating blow to his own ambition and may have buried his political future with that move."
The lady, @joke_aj1, who asked Rhodes-Vivour the question in Yoruba, also shared on X, "GRV, no hard feelings but, respectfully, before you can govern a Yoruba State, you need to understand and speak our language. I asked you a question in Yoruba, but you couldn't reply to me in Yoruba. You were speaking gibberish."
@idiakosa SAID, "After four years, GRV should have learned Yoruba. It would have strengthened his candidacy and turned one of his weaknesses into a strength. Lagos is an indigenous Yoruba-speaking state. Learning the language shows respect for the people and recognition of its importance."
@Wildman477 said, "You immigrants in the South West will not decide for us who should govern us. If you have the capacity to choose good leaders in ur region,87% of u guys won't abandon it and run away to SW. GRV will not be governor of Lagos (he can't speak Yoruba), and there is nothing you can all do about it."
Kicking against those supporting Rhodes-Vivour and saying language shouldn't determine the efficiency of a governorship candidate, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's aide, Wale Ajetunmobi reminded them of the incident at Babel, as detailed in the Bible.
@Riddwane said, "The reason why many of you don’t show your faces is because of the high quality of your ignorance. The foundation of building a society starts with the language individual in the society speaks. Aside daring the omnipotence of God, part of the reason why Tower of Babel’s construction was not successful is because of the confusion in the languages the people spoke. If language does not matter in solving problems, how would people communicate the problem in the first place? Taking to social media, Rhodes-Vivour promised good governance, which he believes should be delivered without consideration for language."
Issuing a statement on X after the event, Rhodes-Vivour played down the importance of language with regard to governance.
He said, "Dear Lagosians, this is my promise to you. I will never, in any language, tell you to live in your parents' house as an answer to the expensive rents and housing deficit. Instead, we will work tirelessly to deliver 100,000 units of housing that are not only accessible but truly affordable. Enact laws that protect tenants and create an agency to investigate and enforce said laws.
"I will never, in any language, tell you that Traffic is a lifestyle. Instead, we will deliver the entire rail network in 2years by opening the project to private sector procurement. Our focus will not be on how to pad or steal money; it will be on making movement in Lagos more effective and affordable.
"I will never, in any language, tell you that we do not know or understand how much waste is being generated in Lagos State, nor will we tell you to go back to your village when you complain about the state of the environment.
"We will rid the waste management system of the corruption and racketeering that has left Lagos covered in filth. We will create a waste-to-energy and waste-to-wealth value chain. We will build out proper sewage processing facilities and empower local governments to participate in waste management.
"Lastly, under no circumstances will any public official boast about expensive watches whilst so many struggle in poverty.
"My promise to you is high-impact governance, actions you will feel, because Actions speak far louder than words."
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