Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State in the 2023 election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV), has asserted that it is impossible to develop a nation while actively looting with impunity.
The architect and activist, appearing live on News Central TV’s Breakfast Central on Wednesday, June 12, in commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day 2024, emphasised the need for leadership committed to genuine nation-building.
“Our political elites harbour the fallacy that they can loot the country and develop it simultaneously. It is not possible. Even the brain cannot process how to steal and develop at the same time.
“If we must move forward as a country, we have to eliminate corruption. What hope is there for this government when those in power are the very ones stealing money?
“The people need to realise that it is their responsibility to hold leaders accountable and ensure that this [corruption] does not occur.
“We need leadership that understands the necessity of austerity. People cannot be hungry and searching for food while you spend billions on luxury cars and housing. For what purpose?
“You are there to serve, so you cannot spend such amounts knowing that people are in need,” he added.
Speaking on how to restore trust between the people and the government, Rhodes-Vivour stated:
“Most politicians secure office by buying votes. That “exchange” alone demystifies the concept of public service. If I buy your votes, I will no longer respect you.
“So I will serve myself, gather money, and in four years, I will buy votes from you again. This has been happening, resulting in lords over you, not leaders.
“Additionally, it is crucial to consider people’s antecedents. A wolf should not tell a sheep, ‘I will become a vegetarian when I get into office,’ and the sheep believes it,” he said.
Leaders lack love for the people
Rhodes-Vivour emphasised that the most important qualities in leadership are competence, character, and love. According to him, political leaders in the country are indifferent to the people’s plight because they lack love for the people.
“Tribe and religion do not matter in leadership. What matters is competence, merit, character, empathy, and love. The political leaders we have do not love the people.
“You cannot claim to love Nigerians when people are starving, and you are spending 21 billion on the vice president’s residence,” he said.