Former Labour Party governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has alleged that ex-Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was denied a second term because he attempted to reform the state’s established political structure.
Speaking during an Arise TV interview from 29:54, Rhodes-Vivour credited certain policy achievements while analyzing the political dynamics that he claims ended Ambode’s gubernatorial aspirations. “While I’ll give credit for certain policies like the open-door court, I think that was done under Governor Fashola. The quality of urban arts, a regional sort of design that was done under Governor Ambode,” the former candidate acknowledged.
Rhodes-Vivour attributed Ambode’s single-term tenure to resistance from entrenched political interests when the former governor pursued systemic changes. “The reason why Governor Ambode did not do his two terms is because he tried to push for a change, because he tried to push for certain changes. Government pushed back, and they removed him, made him a one-term governor,” he explained.
The former Labour Party candidate suggested that Ambode’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for subsequent governors in Lagos State. “And then after that, you have governors that must go with this archetype that the Commonwealth serves the interest of one man and who he decides to serve,” Rhodes-Vivour stated.
Rhodes-Vivour extended his analysis to the broader All Progressives Congress (APC) political framework in Lagos, arguing that talented individuals remain constrained by existing power structures. “So unfortunately for the APC, even if they have the most brilliant men, as long as they go through that process to emerge, they must be answerable to that godfather. And that has held Lagos back for far too long,” he claimed
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