A mild drama occurred at the 2026 Independence Day edition of The Platform after the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, was questioned about the preservation of Yoruba language, culture and tradition.
An audience member asked Rhodes-Vivour what he would do to preserve Yoruba culture and language if elected governor of Lagos State, pointing to concerns that many children in Lagos were increasingly unable to speak Yoruba.
The questioner also referenced a recent interview Rhodes-Vivour had with Channels Television and cited countries such as China and India as examples of places where indigenous languages remain prominent.
As Rhodes-Vivour began responding in English, some members of the audience reportedly protested and asked him to answer the question in Yoruba, briefly causing tension at the venue.
Rhodes-Vivour acknowledged the cultural significance of Yoruba identity to Lagos.
“Let me start by saying this is Lagos; Lagos is Yorubaland. No doubt about it. Language is important, language carries the culture and heritage of our people,” he said.
He, however, shifted the focus to governance and the responsibilities that would confront him if elected governor.
The ADC candidate criticised what he described as problems within the state's education system, alleging that pupils could be punished for speaking Yoruba in some schools despite more than two decades of APC-led governance in the state. He urged the questioner to also direct some of the concerns to representatives of the Lagos State Government present at the event.
The exchange comes amid continuing questions about Rhodes-Vivour's Yoruba-speaking ability and his family background during the 2027 Lagos governorship campaign.
In September, he said he had engaged a Yoruba teacher and had improved his ability to speak the language, adding that he could now campaign in Yoruba.
In a separate recent interview, Rhodes-Vivour said language and culture were important but argued that the campaign should remain focused on issues affecting Lagos residents.
He identified concerns including traffic and living conditions and said he would not allow questions about his family background or language ability to distract from those issues.
Rhodes-Vivour, who contested the 2023 Lagos governorship election on the Labour Party platform and finished second, is now seeking the governorship under the ADC.
He has said the opposition coalition in Lagos is being structured around voter mobilisation and protection of votes, while also advocating greater transparency and technology in governance.
The exchange at The Platform has consequently added another dimension to the debate over identity, language, culture and governance in Lagos ahead of the 2027 election.
While Rhodes-Vivour affirmed the importance of Yoruba language and culture, his response emphasised that his principal responsibility as a governorship candidate would be addressing the broader governance challenges facing Lagos residents.
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