‘No healing without justice’ — Rhodes-Vivour replies Tinubu

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos, says there can be no healing until justice is served to victims of electoral violence in the country. 

Rhodes-Vivour spoke during a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday.

The LP candidate lost the March 18 election to Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

TheCable had reported incidents of electoral violence and voter suppression across the state before and during the elections, while social media was also awash with ethnic slurs and profiling.

On Tuesday, Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, condemned the electoral violence that occurred during the elections, describing them as “unacceptable and antithetical to democratic ethos”.

Tinubu said his government would champion the healing process by embracing the opponents and their supporters to unite the country.

However, Rhodes-Vivour said the electoral violence cannot be overlooked and must be treated before the healing process could commence.

He called on residents of Lagos to be vocal against a “new type of democracy” that is being imposed on them.

“Yesterday, Bola Tinubu called for healing but healing cannot happen without justice. There was an attempt to make this seems like the violence was a Yoruba versus Igbo. But it was widespread across the state. Everybody was affected and disenfranchised,” the LP candidate said.

“And we also saw a lot of violence and intimidation but it was nothing compared to the militia attack unleashed on Lagos on Saturday.

“What we are complaining about is not numbers, it is the new type of democracy these people are trying to impose. The topic of conversation is that well-meaning Lagosians should stand up and show that they are disdained.”

Rhodes-Vivour also announced the launch of a website where victims of electoral violence can upload their evidence and get their medical bills handled by his team.

“Today, we launched a platform called GRVCares2023.com. Please, anyone that is a victim of electoral violence can log onto this website and upload the evidence of this violence, hospital bill, and police report if you have it,” he said.

“We will offset your bills. Because empathy and love are not just lip service but actions. And for people that came out, we are going to show that we stand by you.”