Kunle Adelabu
The Governorship candidate of the Labour Party, (LP) in the last General Elections, Mr Gbadebo Rhode – Vivour, has called on the Lagos State Government on the need to do more about on the preservation of the Lagos’ history and heritage.
The LP chieftain made the appeal on Sunday, during his visit to the King Kosoko Memorial Museum, after taking part in a procession to commemorate the 163rd anniversary of the return of Oba Kosoko to Lagos.
Gbadebo, who attended the King Kosoko Memorial Lecture at Glover Hall last Sunday, also said that Lagos embodies the entire country, and advocated for the creation of Centre for Lagos history. He also pledged to continue to support the Kosoko family in any way possible in the preservation of their heritages.
“It is a wonderful part of Lagos history. Our history is so rich. The whole story of traditional relics, the royal family of King Adele, King Kosoko and the entire stories, are what make Lagos so rich, and we must celebrate it and keep it.
“This is our tradition, this is our culture as Lagosians. It is something that must always celebrate and remind people about it, because some people think we don’t have history, but we have very strong history.
“I am here to celebrate with the family and this is something to me. I am so proud of the family for preserving this heritage and this is something that the state must support, and do more to support the history and its preservation and make it more tourists attraction as well.
“These are the things that the state should be doing, but we will continue to celebrate them and when you look around, just look at our history; look at the pictures on the wall, you know this is a very special place. So, I am very happy to be here” .
While charging Lagosians on the need to preserve and celebrate their history, the former LP Candidate, called on the Lagos State Government to create a centre for Lagos history in other to raise consciousness and make Lagosians to be more aware about their heritages.
“We must preserve it (our culture and tradition), especially we, ‘Omo Eko’. We must preserve it. You will see a lot of people are just demolishing our buildings and demolishing our history. We are not appreciating our culture.
“Today, there is a centre for Yoruba history, where is the centre for Lagos history in Lagos?, he asked rhetorically.
“We need our own place because our history is rich. Nigeria was found in Lagos on this street. This is where Nigeria was formed on this street of Lagos Island, so, we have to celebrate ourselves and even we, as Lagosians, must start to fund and celebrate initiative like this. That is what I believe we should do to move forward”.
He commended the Oloja – elect of Lagos, Prince Abiola Kosoko and the entire King Kosoko Royal Family, for spearheading the reconstruction and preservation of King Kosoko history and heritage.
He pledged to support the family in their quest to continue to preserve the family and Lagos history and heritage.
“He should continue. I am so proud of him; I am so proud of the Kosoko family; I am so proud of everything that they have done to preserve our heritage and continuing telling the story every year.
“I was at the lecture that they did last week, it was an amazing history, amazing lecture, amazing knowledge. More Lagosians should be aware of these things. So, I encourage him and I am ready to render any support that I can give to him. I will always be part of it”, Gbadebo Rhodes – Vivour said.
