Tinubu practices ‘agberocracy’ in Nigeria – Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV), an architect, and politician, has expressed critical views on the leadership style of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly his role as a representative of Yoruba interests.

GRV made these statements during an interview with actress and host Iyabo Ojo on her show, Gold Room with Iyabo Ojo.

Speaking on the perception of Tinubu’s political dominance, GRV stated, “Firstly, anybody that questions the hegemony of Bola Ahmed Tinubu or the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) always has their Yoruba identity questioned or taken from them.

This challenges the idea that the President is supposed to represent the entire Yoruba people, which is absolutely absurd.”

Ojo responded, stating the importance of national unity over ethnic affiliations, saying, “I think he should not just represent an ethnicity but Nigeria as a whole.”

In a sharp rebuttal, GRV argued that Tinubu does not adequately represent the Yoruba people. “I don’t even think he is a good representative of their ethnicity,” he said.

“I don’t believe he can epitomize the Yoruba people compared to the likes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. We practice an Agberocracy—it’s about violence, who can spend the most money, who can manipulate and tell lies the most, propaganda. For me, as a culture, if this is who we are looking at as our representative, we’ve fallen very badly.”

GRV, who ran as the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 Lagos State election, has been a prominent voice in Nigerian politics.

He previously served as the youngest major-party senatorial candidate when he contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Lagos West in the 2019 general elections.