Former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has harshly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, branding it a failure and accusing it of presiding over the worst cost-of-living crisis Nigeria has faced in four decades.
Rhodes-Vivour made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics on Tuesday, where he gave a damning assessment of the government’s performance in tackling the country’s deepening economic and security challenges.
“This government ultimately has been a failure. When you talk about the quality of life, the cost of living — this is the highest cost-of-living crisis that Nigeria has faced in the last 40 years,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour also painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s security situation, citing alarming casualty figures across various regions.
“Over 10,000 people have died in the North, and about 7,000 people in the South. On the international tourism index, we’ve dropped from number 8 to number 6,” he noted.
While condemning government spending habits, he criticised what he described as a stark contrast between citizens’ hardship and government opulence.
“You can talk of policies all you want, but if people are experiencing hardship, and at the same time you are renovating the vice president’s residence, spending money like an economy that’s buoyant, it’s tone-deaf,” he said.
“It’s always about the people tightening their belts, but government is living lavishly,” he added.
Nigeria Now Among World’s Poorest — Rhodes-Vivour
Citing economic decline under the Tinubu-led administration, Rhodes-Vivour lamented the country’s growing poverty levels.
“Nigeria is now ranked as the 10th poorest country in the world,” he said, while expressing worry that citizens have seen little to no relief despite the promises made by the government.
Rhodes-Vivour, emerged as a strong opposition figure during the 2023 gubernatorial election in Lagos and continues to play an active role in public discourse. His comments add to growing public scrutiny over the federal government’s handling of economic reforms and their impact on ordinary Nigerian
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