Opposition figure and 2023 Labour Party gubernatorial candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV) has faced backlash after sharing photos of Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu inspecting the site of the devastating Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House fire, in what many perceived as an attempt to mock the governor’s response to the tragedy.
On January 2, Rhodes-Vivour reposted a statement from Governor Sanwo-Olu expressing sympathies to families who lost loved ones in the Christmas Eve blaze that razed the 25-storey building on Lagos Island.
The post included images of the charred remains of the structure and Sanwo-Olu on-site with officials.
Rhodes-Vivour captioned it simply “Good Morning!”, a move widely interpreted on social media as sarcastic trolling amid a disaster that claimed at least eight lives, injured 13 others, and destroyed goods worth billions of naira.
Critics quickly accused the architect-turned-politician of insensitivity, arguing that politicizing a fatal incident where recovery operations were still ongoing was in poor taste.
Many pointed out that Sanwo-Olu had visited the scene multiple times, confirmed fatalities, ordered the building’s demolition for safety reasons, and set up support for affected traders and families.
“The governor is on ground doing his job, extending condolences and ensuring accountability, while GRV thinks it’s time for cheap shots,” one viral response read. Others highlighted ongoing rescue efforts and the governor’s directives to audit nearby structures for fire risks.
The fire, which started on December 24, 2025, originated on an upper floor of the commercial plaza used largely as a warehouse and spread rapidly, affecting adjoining buildings.
Authorities have attributed delays in containment partly to unsafe practices like improper generator use.
Rhodes-Vivour’s post garnered over 500,000 views, with thousands of likes but also significant criticism for perceived opportunism.
Supporters defended it as highlighting government shortcomings on fire safety in markets, but the prevailing sentiment online was that the timing undermined any valid critique.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
