By Elizabeth Ukey
2023 Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has said that opposition figures are working to unseat President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on Channels Television鈥檚 Lunchtime Politics on Tuesday, Rhodes-Vivour confirmed that talks are ongoing to form a united opposition coalition led by key figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi.
鈥淭he only way that we can move this country forward in terms of the opposition is to come together.
鈥淲e cannot afford to divide our votes again.
鈥淎dd Alhaji Atiku Abubakar鈥檚 votes to His Excellency Peter Obi鈥檚 votes, they鈥檒l completely take out the current sitting president,鈥 he said.
He added that split votes had cost the opposition dearly in previous elections and stressed the importance of forming a formidable front to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
Rhodes-Vivour disclosed that discussions within the coalition are at an advanced stage and that the group would soon announce the political platform on which it intends to run.
鈥淭he conversation now is that we are working to put a coalition together.
鈥淲e are going to hear announcements by tomorrow or next tomorrow, and everybody is coming together.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 our main focus. At that point, we can then authoritatively say this is the party that we are going to run on,鈥 Rhodes-Vivour said.
The 42-year-old politician also launched a scathing attack on President Tinubu鈥檚 administration, describing it as a 鈥渇ailure,鈥 particularly in the areas of economic management and public welfare.
鈥淭his government ultimately has been a failure.
鈥淲hen 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,鈥 the former gubernatorial candidate said.
He also criticised the federal government鈥檚 handling of security, citing a high death toll across the country.
鈥淵ou look at security: over 10,000 people have died in the North, and about 7,000 people have died in the South.
鈥淥n the international tourism index, we have gone from number 8 to number 6.
鈥淵ou can talk of policies all you want, but if people are experiencing hardship, simultaneously, you are renovating the vice president鈥檚 residence,鈥 he added.
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