By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

An elite socio-cultural organization known as Cultural Credibility Development Initiative (CCDI) has thrown its weight behind the Governorship aspirations of the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (a.k.a Chinedu in his generic maternal forebear).

The group, in a statement signed by Ide Goddy Uwazurike, President of CCDI and Steve Nwabuko, Secretary, respectively, said that Vivour has what it takes to reverse Lagos State from being a touted dilapidated mega city to an oriental nation-state, given the mix of the diversities of ethnic cultures it hosts as Nigeria’s citizens.

The statement reads in part: “As former capital of Nigeria, Lagos has lost its finesse and accoutrements in cleanliness, good road infrastructure, water utilities, electricity supply, industrial hub, export potentials by sea cargo and start-ups to a state bedeviled by wanton lawlessness, street urchins and derelicts, extortion, de-industrialisation, divestment, and gross mismanagement of resources.

“The great vision of our forebears to build Lagos as an anchor for turning Nigeria into a first World nation in Africa has been deconstructed into a phoney gamble of personal aggrandisement, extravagance, egotism, grandstanding and luxuriant imperatives that has thrown the common man into the streets of poverty and joblessness instead of the classroom of knowledge, skill and creativity that bestrode Pa Obafemi Awolowo’s highly respected eclectic dictum of human capital reinvigoration, resulting in Lagos state having more than two million out of school children in the 21st century.

“Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, a graduate of Architecture from the much revered Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T) in the USA, having been raised from an acclaimed and decent Indigenous EKO family of original Lagos, has character, capacity, competence, stability of mind, credibility, trustworthiness, tenacity of purpose, strength to work and vision to re-launch A New Lagos in the 21st century.

“As with New York, New Jersey and New London, so shall a New Lagos happen under the watch of Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour as the next Governor of Lagos State by the special help and grace of God.”

While vouching their votes and that of their friends, families and kinsmen for Vivour, the group reeled out its request for a new Lagos in the event that he wins the contest.

Their five-point demand runs thus: “Give us a new Lagos bereft of thugs, touts, area boys, agberos or other names the call themselves.

“Give us a unique power generating system that guarantees daily electricity supply.

“Open up mainland Lagos and the suburbs with good roads and drainage systems to forestall perennial flooding.

“Provide a level playing ground for all to ventilate our skills, start-ups, creativity, innovation and knowledge economy for businesses to thrive as hallmark of New City State.

“Provide digital security and hybrid urban planning to remove Lagos as the third worst and most dangerous place to live on earth, according to international global risk assessment agencies.

“Create employment for youths and turn Lagos to sports and entertainment hub in Africa.”

It said that as partners in progress, CCDI shall avail the LP flag bearer with good advisory services if they were called to do so.

The group urged the LP governorship hopeful to bring his values of a solid Christian background, fear of God and service to humanity to bear in office as the next Governor of Lagos State.

While wishing Vivour God’s protection, CCDI prayed God to secure his votes and announce him as winner of the election.

The group further assured him of their commitment to deliver their votes to him in large numbers, against all odds