At the 2023 Lagos gubernatorial debate organised by The Platform Nigeria, the Labour Party governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has stated that the absence of the incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is a disappointment.

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Addressing insecurity in Lagos, Rhodes-Vivour said the absence of Sanwo-Olu because of the shooting thugs in the Surulere area of the city on Saturday was “hypocritical and disappointing since his administration was not able to deal with the demands of the  #EndSARS protest”.

“It’s hypocrisy and it is disappointing that he (Sanwo-Olu) is not here, since he could not deal with #EndSARS that happened in 2020,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu, through his commissioner for information and strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, had declared that he would not be attending the debate.

“Following advice from competent sources, including elders and respectable Lagosians, we will henceforth shun any forum that may require us being together with the PDP and its agents of violence,” he said.

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“Consequently, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu regrets to announce that he will not be participating at The Platform governorship debate of January 29, 2023.

“We will never be found in the company of those to the lives of innocent Lagosians mean nothing. Mr Sanwo-Olu won’t share a podium with them.”