Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour says he can now campaign in Yoruba as he seeks the governorship of Lagos State on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Rhodes-Vivour said he had hired a Yoruba teacher and improved his ability to speak the language.
He also responded in Yoruba after one of the presenters greeted him in the language, saying, “Mo ki gbogbo yin,” meaning “I greet all of you.”
The ADC governorship hopeful said language and culture were important, but argued that the major concerns for Lagos residents cut across ethnic backgrounds.
He identified flooding, housing and traffic congestion among the challenges affecting residents, saying his focus was on addressing those problems.
Rhodes-Vivour’s comments come years after his Yoruba proficiency became a subject of debate during the 2023 Lagos governorship election.
He had then acknowledged that he could understand and speak Yoruba but was not fluent, and later said he had hired a teacher to improve his command of the language.
Rhodes-Vivour contested the 2023 election under the Labour Party and finished second behind Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress.
Comments
Add a comment