Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State in the 2023 governorship election, has expressed concern with the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss his case against Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The kernel of Rhodes-Vivour’s case filed at the Appeal Court is on Sanwo-Olu’s running mate qualification.
He claimed that the deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat, had renounced his citizenship as a Nigerian.
The Supreme Court, however, held that Sanwo-Olu’s deputy is a Nigerian by birth.
The apex court stated that the renunciation of citizenship of a citizen by birth must be registered by the Nigerian president, adding that the appellant did not provide evidence to that effect.
In a social media post seen by Dockaysworld, Rhodes-Vivour expressed shock at the ruling and raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and loyalty among leaders.
His words: “Today, the Supreme Court set a precedent: a governor or president can have multiple allegiances to states other than Nigeria and still be the chief security officer of Lagos or Nigeria.
“While I submit to this shocking decision of the Supreme Court, I worry for what this precedent holds for future generations being led by leaders with conflict of interest and loyalty.
“There is no Liberal Democracy that will accept to be led by an individual who has sworn an oath of allegiance to another country.
“Citizens should not have to contemplate the loyalty of their commander in chief or the chief security officer of their state. That said, as the court pleases.”
