ADC candidate for Lagos governor Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour has stirred backlash over his tribute to the victims of End SARS.
He shared a video of himself at the Lekki Toll Gate honouring the lives that were lost in the shooting.
Gbadebo said he mourns them and stands with the families whose lives were forever changed by the struggle against police brutality.
He questioned what has changed in the past six years and demanded a new Lagos and a Nigeria where institutions serve the people and power is exercised responsibly.
“Today, we remember the lives lost on 20 October 2020. We mourn them and stand with the families whose lives were forever changed by the struggle against police brutality.
Six years later, we must ask: what has truly changed?
From the use of police to disrupt my declaration into the ADC to the poor welfare and housing conditions facing officers, we must confront a system that too often fails both citizens and those entrusted to protect them.
Police officers deserve dignity and decent working conditions. Citizens deserve protection, accountability and freedom from intimidation. Neither should be sacrificed for political interests.
We honour the #EndSARS victims by continuing to demand a Lagos and a Nigeria where institutions serve the people, and power is exercised with responsibility.
May their sacrifice never be in vain”.
His post didn’t sit well with many, who described it as being performative.
One tiwatope wrote, “Performative nonsense
One iam_omatee wrote, “All these acts don cast jare
One iam_semileniola wrote, “Mtcheww did he do this last year? Or a year before?
One Oba_aje_1 wrote, “All this one na politics. Last year, you no remember carry flower come but this year you carry flower come because the election is around the corner abi?”.