The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos state for the 2023 general election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has chided the less privileged for tribalising the 2023 presidential elections.

The politician who finished second in the poll said the tribal issues that arose before the polls were "deep" adding that they were a "tool for distraction".

Speaking on the latest episode of the Honest Bunch Podcast, Rhodes-Vivour stressed that affluent Nigerians strive for "excellence" rather than inject tribe into their dealings.

Sharing a typical example from the funeral of the late Access Holding Chairman, Herbert Wigwe, Rhodes-Vivour said the rich and wealth interconnect to build their business empires.

"This tribal matter in Lagos is a deep matter and a tool for distraction. Yesterday I was at Herbert Wigwe’s tribute and a gentleman, an Igbo came to tell the story of how Herbert was a very good friend. That Igbo man, because Herbert was working with Fola Adeola of GT Bank introduced Dangote to Herbert, and Herbert got Dangote to open his first account at GTB," he said on the show.

"We also now heard about how one of the sons at Diamond Bank was working with Fola Adeola in GTB. You know when I was listening to all these men talk, I realized that when people are productive and are working and are busy, nobody cares about the tribe."

"Rich wealthy people don't care about tribe, they want excellence. Their children are marrying themselves. It is you who is not productive who is suffering that they are bringing this tribe this too."