.jpeg)
By: Manoah kikekon
Former Lagos LP Governorship Candidate Shares Ancestral Connection to Badagry’s Storied Monarchy
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the former Lagos State Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, has unveiled his family ties to the Akran of Badagry, one of Nigeria’s most historic kingdoms.
Speaking on his deep connection to Badagry, Rhodes-Vivour noted, “Badagry holds a special place in my heart—firstly because of family ties. Late Emilinda De Branco was married to the late Oba Claudius Dosa-Akran. The Branco, Akran, and Branco-Rhodes families were first cousins.” He also praised the warmth of Badagry’s people and the town’s rich cultural beauty.
Delving into history, Rhodes-Vivour highlighted the significance of the Obalefun title, rooted in Yoruba tradition and Ifá spirituality. Etymologically, “Obalefun” translates to “The Ambassador for Peace.”
According to Ifá scripture, the title traces back to Orunmila, the Yoruba deity of wisdom, who established it with the verse:
“Orí adẹ́tù / A bìwà pẹ̀lẹ́ / A difa fún Orunmila / To n bá wọn ṣe àwo Obalefun.”
Translation: “One born with greatness, / The peaceful being, / Divinated for Orunmila / That is to be crowned as Obalefun.”
Rhodes-Vivour’s acknowledgment of his Badagry lineage reinforces the intertwining of Nigeria’s political and traditional institutions. It also sheds light on Badagry’s historical significance as a hub of Yoruba heritage, colonialism, and the transatlantic slave trade.
As Nigeria’s political figures increasingly embrace their ancestral roots, Rhodes-Vivour’s revelation adds a royal dimension to his public profile—proving that in Lagos, history and modernity walk hand in hand.