Rhodes-Vivour Defends Yoruba Fluency as Governance Candidate

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), defended his position regarding the Yoruba language and culture. He stated that his ability to govern Lagos should not be judged based on his fluency in Yoruba.

This clarification came after his response to a question about preserving Yoruba culture at The Platform event on October 1, where he began answering in English, prompting requests for a Yoruba response. Rhodes-Vivour acknowledged the contributions of indigenous communities, such as the Aworis and Eguns, to Lagos's development.

He explained that his challenge with Yoruba is related to fluency, as he generally thinks in English before translating his thoughts into other languages. He asserted that his governance role does not require perfect Yoruba to protect Lagos's indigenous culture, emphasizing that Lagos is Yoruba land and that heritage and culture should be respected.