The Lagos State governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has denigrated the reforms embarked upon by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that since assuming office in 2023, Mr Tinubu has initiated some reforms, such as fuel subsidy removal, floating of the naira, and electricity tariff removal, among others.

Despite plunging the country into deeper economic crisis, the government has maintained that the reforms are bearing fruit.

But speaking during an interview on Channels TV, Mr Rhodes-Vivour said the so-called reform only benefits friends of the president and his appointees.

“The people are experiencing unprecedented hardship. Today, over 70 percent of people’s income is spent on transportation and food. They’ve not even started to think about how they can afford accommodation.

“We have a situation where there is a culture of wastefulness and extravagance that does not reflect the dire economic situation that the same president is pushing out that needs to be reformed.

“The only people that seem to be benefitting from these reforms are maybe the bankers, the people in government, and the President’s friends. How many Nigerians can say they are benefitting from any reform any reform right now?”

During the program, Mr Rhodes-Vivour also declared his intention to join the 2027 governorship race in Lagos.

He said he wouldn’t give up on actualising his ambition to be Lagos State Governor.

When asked by the presenter if he would join the 2027 governorship race, he responded, “By God’s grace, yes.

“I believe that if all parties do not come together, it is going to be a waste of time running in 2027 because there is a full state capture happening in this country now.

“We cannot afford for the opposition to be separate. For now, my job is to ensure that I have a strong party – Labour Party.”