By Meletus EZE
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Lagos West, has called on Nigerians to speak up against bad governance for the overall development of the country.
The PDP senatorial candidate made the call at an `Election Awareness Programme organised by the Justice, Development and Peace Centre (JDPC) of the Catholic Church in Lagos.
According to the 36-year-old politician, many Nigerians are used to adjusting to abnormal situations instead of demanding accountability and good governance from elected officials.
“If the roads are bad we buy jeep, if the schools are not good, we send our children abroad, if our hospitals are not working, we go abroad for treatment, there is no light, we buy big generators.
“We Nigerians have become accustomed to poor public service delivery to the extent that what is abnormal in saner climes have become normal to us; this is affecting us and it is high time to change that narrative,’’ he said.
He said that the dearth of quality technocrats in the country’s political space was because parents and religious leaders had in the past “castigated politics as a pastime of the corrupt and riffraff.”
“While I was growing up, our parents and religious leaders told us that it is only corrupt or bad people that are involved in politics.
“ The politics and bad governance that we have today are as a result of this; it is now that good people are trying to stand up to correct it by changing the narratives.
“If we engage our elected officers in dialogues, they will do much better because after four years when they seek to be re-elected, they have to give account of what they have done,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour said if elected senator, he would push for the decongestion of ports to end the incessant Lagos gridlocks caused by trucks and accelerate growth and reduce cost of basic goods.
”I am going to push for the refurbishment of existing ports and in that way we create more jobs in those places,” he said.
He said that the Lagos/Badagry expressway was a complete mess and a nightmare and promised to make its completion a priority, if elected.
Also speaking, Mrs Dorothy Ilegbune, African Democratic Congress (ADC) Federal House of Representative candidate for Amuwo-Odofin/Oriade, said she would push for the construction of a link bridge between Festac Town and Ejigbo area of Lagos.
“If I am voted in, I will link 6th Avenue in Festac with Ejigbo: If you go to Oriade Local Government Area, you will weep, they are totally forgotten,’’ she said.
Also speaking, Leonard Ogbonnia, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) House of Representative candidate for Amuwo-Odofin/Oriade, said he would bridge the gap between representatives and the electorate.
“My aspiration is borne out of the protracted neglect and poor representation of my constituency and the obnoxious policies against commerce in the area.
“I will provide responsible and responsive representation through an open-door policy,’’ he said.—- NAN
