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Tag: Jakande

  • Jakande will be remembered for good deeds – Sanwo-Olu

    Jakande will be remembered for good deeds – Sanwo-Olu

    Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says his administration and people of the state will forever remember late Lateef Jakande for his good deeds to humanity.

    Sanwo-Olu made the disclosure at the Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture organised by the Nigerian Guilds of Editors (NGE) in Lagos on Monday.

    The lecture is with the themed: “Alhaji Lateef Jakande: The Man, His Journalism, His Politics.”

    Sanwo-Olu, represented his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said a life well-spent was not determined by how long one lives but by the number of lives one is able to impact positively.

    “I am glad that we are here today to be part of this annual lecture instituted to honour the memory of a great administrator, an elder statesman, and the first civilian Governor of our state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.

    “Jakande did not only live long to the ripe age of 91, but whose life was a reflection of humanity at its abundance with several stories of positive impacts.

    “Though the passing of Alhaji Jakande was somewhat painful to us as a state and to individuals who knew him personally because he was indeed a man of lovable personality.

    “We wished he could live forever, we must give unreserved appreciation to God for blessing us with him and for also giving him the grace to live a life that touched and impacted lives.

    “My administration and the good people of the state will forever remember Alhaji Lateef Jakande for his good deeds to the people of the state,” he said.

    Sanwo-Olu said the lecture would not only immortalise Jakande’s good name, adding that it would also espoused his ideals for the coming generation to imbibe in their professional and public services.

    The governor commended the president and all members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) for instituting the annual lecture.

    Sanwo-Olu said the theme would x-ray the life journey and milestone achievements of Jakande which revolve round his profession as a journalist and his calling as a consummate politician.

    He said there is no gainsaying that both in his profession and his calling, Jakande demonstrated visionary leadership and selflessness in the service to the people and humanity.

    The governor said his leadership skills had made the NGE become a highly respected body in the media industry, which is a testament to his vision and exemplary leadership.

    Sanwo-Olu said to immortalise him, his administration established the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy to unleash the potential of the next generation leaders.

    He said, “The academy was established to immortalise the name of the first civilian governor of our state whose impact on the generality of our people was outstanding.

    “It will provide an avenue for the younger generation to imbibe the responsible and selfless leadership which were the hallmarks of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande both in his private and public lives.”

    Sanwo-Olu said his leadership programme would offer life-changing, non-partisan and meritocratic opportunities to young Nigerians who desire to impact their generation through public service.

    In his welcome address, the NGE President, Mr Eze Anaba, said the Alhaji Lateef Jakande Inaugural Lecture is to honour the great man and to recognise his outstanding achievements.

    Anaba said it was important to institutionalise a culture of appreciation which would give the institutional memory to know how they got to where they were and how to build on the legacy of the past.

    “Also, Baba Kekere, lived an impactful life so much that we can’t talk about modern journalism in Nigeria without talking about him.

    “His blueprint is everywhere and his shadow covered our industry and his associates and students and those who know him closely about how gigantic he was.

    “Many people who know him closely will gladly testify that he is an incredible talent whether as a journalist or as a politician,” he said.

    Anaba said Jakande had a response to everything because he devoted his entire professional and political careers to advancing values to liberty and social justice.

    He said he also exemplified the value of honesty, integrity and fairness, saying that he told the stories of the needy and held the powerful to accountable.

  • Jakande Built Modern Lagos Before Our Eyes – By Lade Bonuola

    Jakande Built Modern Lagos Before Our Eyes – By Lade Bonuola

    By Lade Bonuola

    I have restrained myself from getting involved in this kind of controversy. This was why I made a strenuous effort from being drawn into the brickbat between Bayo Onanuga/Dele Alake on the one hand and Arise News on the other despite pressure on me to say something. “Oga, this is shameful, won’t you say something to guide us?” I resisted the pressure. The drive for political power in this clime has no respect for anything. Not for honour, nor anything with the tinge of sublimity! You will be hailed for calling black white and white, black even on the platform of journalists who are not just observers but chroniclers of developments and events.

    How can anybody say LASU was a glorified school? Oh, really?

    The Metro line was stopped by the Buhari junta, not by NPN!

    What NPN attempted to do was to stop the establishment of Lagos Radio and Television. The Shagari Administration sought to vest the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria with the power to establish and operate state radio stations. The Nigerian Television Authority was to set up at least one television station in each state of the Federation. They said states setting up radios and TV would amount to the proliferation of broadcast stations. They did not know the person they were dealing with—someone who for years was the President of IPI, the founder of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, the founder of Newspapers Proprietors Association, (NPAN); founder of NIJ, managing director/editor of the Nigerian Tribune, one who led the media in battles with the military as well as irresponsible civilian administrations. Jakande fought it and was victorious. His administration was therefore the first state government to own a TV Station in Nigeria.

    The functional primary schools he built to abolish the three-session system he inherited were recommended by UNESCO for developing countries.

    When Gbolahan Mudasiru came, he started to upgrade them. And he did a lot. The Jakande schools were meant for a purpose and they fulfilled such that pupil enrollment leapt from 90, 172 in 1979 to 136, 987 in 1983.
    Secondary schools rose from 79 when Jakande took over in 1979 to 319 by July 1983. The student population was 59,584 by October 1979. By a year later it had leapt to 107, 835 students.

    The teachers were the highest paid in the nation with the right to car and housing loans like the state civil servants.

    Housing: He embarked on a crash programme to build 50, 000 housing units in four years. For 17 years before his ascension, LEDB, the state housing corporation succeeded in building only 4,502 housing units. His focus was on the low and medium classes of our people. He succeeded in delivering 21,000. An allottee was required to pay only N4,000 as a deposit. Whoever was unable to afford that could pay just N1,000 and he would be eligible for a loan to balance up from LBIC. He thus established 18 housing estates in the state. A two-bedroom flat was sold for N6,000 and a three-bedroom unit for N8,000.

    I have read in several places that by 1999, Lagos could only generate N600 million.
    Let’s hear it from the horse’s mouth who came to the saddle 20 years earlier, the one and only LKJ: “We generated enough to meet our obligations without dependence on the Federal Account.” And so, Lagos State under Jakande was the first State Government in the land to announce a billion Naira budget and it gave loans to some state governments, notably Borno!

    Jakande was the one who established the Lagos State Ministry of Environment under the headship of Alabi Masha. He then set up Lagos State Waste Disposal Board with Alhaji Mumini as chairman. Anyone of my generation who knew Mumini would remember the kind of person he was, and his unremitted application to assigned tasks. Equipped with a fleet of 157 vehicles, 21 mechanical shovels and 2,000 movable dust bins in every part of the metropolis, the board collected 400,000 tonnes of refuse yearly. Of course, the population of Lagos has increased by leaps, it should necessarily be expected of his successors to roll up their sleeves and Fashola fitted the bill. Fashola did remarkably well. We should remember that because of his shine, it was a tug of war to have him get the nod of the city fathers for a second term! Ambode continued in the line of Fashola to tackle the refuse problem successfully. Was it not part of building a cleaner Lagos that Fashola embarked on environmental transformation everywhere, turning Lagos into exemplary leafy surroundings—plants, flowers, green lawns even in the most unexpected terrain?

    Jakande established Flood Relief Committee deflooding Ebute Ero, Oroyinyin; Obalende; Aguda; Opebi; Apapa; Eric More; Simpson; Oba Akran and many more upto Somolu! Drains collectors were built at Gbagada; Oshodi Mafoluku; Ojota; Keri etc.

    To arouse public interest in environmental transformation, Jakande introduced the following:
    *Annual Sanitation Day for Market Women;
    *Annual Sanitation Day for Workers;
    *Annual Sanitation Day for School Children;
    *Annual Environmental Day for Community Development Committees;
    *Annual competition on environment among the 20/23 local government councils in the state.

    I won’t want to bore the platform with the roads Jakande built and paved nor his strategy to turn the finances of Lagos State around.

    Presently, I will mention just one area. Strategy on roads? Hold it: His strategy was to establish a Works Management Board. One unique activity of that board was that it had its asphalt plant which could produce 200 tons of asphalt an hour! So it was possible to build neighbourhood roads without much stress. That board also constructed 94 public buildings including the Lagos State House of Assembly; the rebuilding of Onikan Stadium; the Coconut industries in Badagry as well as Conference Hall in that town!

    Perhaps worthy of mentioning because of the exaggerated claims we are fed on this platform is Eti-Osa-Lekki which stretched to Epe! And also perhaps Epe-Ijebu-Ode ( 12,000 meters)! Ha! Let me quickly mention the opening up of Victoria Island-Lekki!

    Just one stream of financial turn-around: Jakande Administration invested in the following companies:
    Guinness Nigeria Limited;
    Nigerian Breweries;
    Dunlop Industries;
    Capps& Da’Alberto;
    Julius Berger;
    G. Cappa;
    UAC;
    BEWAC Ltd;
    UTC Ltd;
    CFAO;
    Volkswagen Nigeria Ltd;
    Nichemtex;
    Clay Industries;
    British American Insurance;
    Westminster Dredging
    Crusader Insurance!

    I have not exhausted all that Jakande did to be the modern builder of Lagos.

    As I said earlier, I have refrained from getting involved in this kind of thing. Were we living on the moon? Are we children? It is rude to attempt to pull the wool over the faces of journalists on their platform, many of them very senior journalists who, if not editors in the period under review, were line editors!

    What constitutes the index of development, of enlightenment if not education, environment and health, transportation? Jakande built LASU, polytechnic, colleges and schools which form the foundation of civilization anywhere. He met 17 hospitals since the colonial days, and within four years he increased the facilities to 22. He set up 10 mini waterworks which is a tool of sanitation. He established a ferry service from Festac to Marina and wool is being pulled over our faces as if we are children and uninformed – on this platform!!!

    Bonuola, famous as Ladbone, the columnist of “Caught Out: A critical look at the Nigerian Press in the Sunday Times”, the founding Editor and later Managing Director of The Guardian, contributed this piece on The Guardian WhatsApp Groups

  • How Jakande died without documenting his enviable achievements – Osoba

    How Jakande died without documenting his enviable achievements – Osoba

    Veteran journalist and former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba has advised Nigerian elites to ensure timely documentation of their giant strides in life before death comes knocking.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Osoba spoke on Thursday (today) at the launch of the epochal Book on the Guardian’s remarkable 10 years of its foundation and operation, and the award of excellence to its founder and first publisher, Mr Alex Uruemu Ibru, in recognition of his outstanding proprietorship.

    Osoba who chaired the event said Nigerian elites should not allow others tell their story for them to avoid twists and turns. He recalled how the late first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande made enviable impacts during his short rain as governor. He said Jakande laid the foundation for what is known today as the modern Lagos but did not capture any of these feats in a book for history purposes.

    “The unfortunate thing in Nigeria is that we don’t write. Jakande died. Inspite of the availability of time for over 30 – 40 years he didn’t write. The history of Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Guild of Editors, Nigerian Newspapers Proprietors Association (NNPA) is not complete without him. He was the founder and bedrock of all these institutions available to our profession today but he didn’t write,” Osoba said.

  • Name LASU after Jakande, Lagos prominent indigenes tell Sanwo-Olu

    Name LASU after Jakande, Lagos prominent indigenes tell Sanwo-Olu

    A group of Lagos Prominent indigenes has implored Governor Babajide SanwoOlu to name Lagos State University (LASU) after the first civilian governor, late Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande for his meritorious services to the state.

    This request was contained in a Press statement issued by their spokesman, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri in Lagos at the weekend.

    “The Late Jakande founded and established the pioneer university and nurtured it to maturity.

    “Other state universities in the country were named after their pioneer founders included Ambrose Alli University in Edo State, Adekunle Ajasin University in Ado Ekiti and Olabisi Onabanjo in Ogun State,” the lndigenes reminded Governor SanwoOlu.

    According to the Lagos lndigenes, Alhaji Jakande deserved such honour as his works in the state were yet to be surpassed.

    “He had done more than any governor dead or living. His legacies included the Lagos Epe- Expressway, Lagos- Badagry Expressway and the Banana Estate, lkoyi amongst others.

    “The scripting of governance in Lagos State cannot be chronicled without Jakande as one of the chief-protagonists and, we dare say, inadequately sung heros of our nation,” the group stated.

    The group pointed out that an elegy was not befitting to capture the life of such a man as Alhaji Jakande, rather an eulogy would do.

    “Alhaji Lateef Jakande made way to history books by sheer completeness in biography, excelling personally, professionally and politically.

    “A simple, unassuming, small-statured man with an ‘iroko’ personality, LKJ during his lifetime, stood tall as a role model to many, whether old or young, political or apolitical, Muslim or Christian, Southerner, Westerner or Northerner.

    “Lagosian by roots, we dare say he was a nationalist and knew no ethnic bigotry.
    Born on the 23rd day of July, 1929 in the Epetedo area of Lagos Island, LKJ was a journalist per excellence and became Governor of Lagos State from 1979-1983.

    “He was later appointed Minister of Works under the Sanni Abacha’s military regime.

    “As Governor, LKJ stretched forth his hands as farthest as he could to reach the poorest grassroots through his housing and neighbourhood primary and secondary educational programmes, noted the group.

    The Prominent lndigenes recalled how Jakande envisioned the Lagos State University and his administration conceptualised and actualised the Lagos-Badagry Expressway that opened that sector of the State for development.

    The Lagos Metroline (LML) project was his brainchild, they also recalled.

    ” lt was of particular note that throughout his lifetime, Alhaji contentedly lived in his personal house in the Ilupeju area of Lagos and used his personal car, even when he was governor.

    “What manner of man! His visionary leadership is peerless and he would easily remain one of the best public office holders in the political history of Nigeria; last of the Titans.

    “A true Awoist with a culture of progressivism and an unbending tenacity for the welfare and the uplift of the masses, he has effortlessly become a ‘political allusion’ and metaphor for performance, not just in Lagos State, but across the country.

    “Alhaji Lateef Jakande lived for the good of others, state and country and his people-oriented policies and legacy of standing for all would long be remembered.

    “The former minister is a ‘personification’ of simplicity, honesty, dedication and selflessness. His life, not his death, drives home the sermon.

    “May Almighty Allah grant his noble soul unimpeded access and permanent residence in Aljanah Firdaus. Amin!”, the prayed.

  • Tinubu says Nigeria is in crisis, warns against repeat of ethno-religious war

    Tinubu says Nigeria is in crisis, warns against repeat of ethno-religious war

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu has said that Nigeria is currently facing a crisis.

    Tinubu explained that the country is experiencing kidnapping, banditry and all other forms of social vices which are indices of crisis.

    “Those who have seen the effect of the war on tribalism and religious conflicts will never want a repeat of such.

    He stated this at the 8th Day Firdaus Prayer of the first civilian governor of Lagos, Late Alhaji Lateef Aremu Jakande, held on Friday at his residence in the Ilupeju area of Lagos State.

    Meanwhile, the APC leader prayed that the Almighty Allah, who gave the country huge potentials for it to be recognised globally, would deliver it from its crisis.

    He noted that those who have seen the effects of the war would avoid a repeat by all means.

    “Nigeria is currently facing a crisis of insurgency, banditry and all aspects of insecurity. May the Almighty that made this country huge in potentials protect and salvage us from looming situations.

    “Only Almighty Allah will judge the unfaithful and will direct us on the right path. It is left for you, myself and everyone.

    “Those who have seen the effect of the war on tribalism and religious conflicts will never want a repeat of such.

    “We pray to God to strengthen our mind and bring peace to this land,” Tinubu added.

    Tinubu, who said the death of Jakande was a colossal loss to the state and the country, said He (Tinubu) was lucky for using the deceased’s house as his (Tinubu’s) cradle of politics and journey to political life.

    He recalled that Alhaji Lateef Jakande told him to vie for the position of a senator. Tinubu prayed to God for prudent, honest and forward-looking leaders like the Late Alhaji Lateef Jakande.

    “If I start to write about Alhaji Jakande, I will write an epistle. I am a lucky one. This is the house where I started to become a politician and my journey to political life.

    “Alhaji Jakande told me to go to the senate. He said Nigeria needs somebody like me.

    “We pray that Lagos State and Nigeria will give us more leaders that are prudent, honest, and would give priority to the future like Alhaji Lateef Jakande,” he stated.

    Speaking also, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that there will be a day for the celebration of the legacies of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande.

    Sanwo-Olu said that the rationale behind this day is to appreciate the indelible legacies and monumental infrastructural development that the deceased left in the state.

    “Lagos will have a day to celebrate Alhaji Jakande because we need to bring history to students so that it won’t go into extinction.

    “We are going to set up a different day when Lagos will celebrate this man.

    “The lesson is for all of us to reflect on how well I am using my voice to change the course of mankind,” he said.

    While giving a lecture earlier, Sheik Habeebullah Adam Abdullah harped on the fact that good conduct is an act of worship.

    He added that good interpersonal relations are an act of worship, saying that God created man to serve Him with all their hearts.

    The lecturer, therefore, urged all the leaders to learn from the deceased as his name will never be erased from the minds of Lagosians and that of Nigerians generally.

    Dignitaries present at the event were Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; and Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba; former Inspector-General of Police, Musiliu Smith and so many others.

  • Jakande rejected offers to be President – Tinubu

    Jakande rejected offers to be President – Tinubu

    National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said has said the first civilian governor of Lagos, late Lateef Jakande rejected offers to become Nigeria’s president.

    He described the late Jakande as the most progressive individual who lived.

    Tinubu spoke on Friday at the eighth day fidau for the deceased at his Ilupeju residence.

    He said: “Jakande refused to become president. He said ‘I don’t want to be president in the midst of chaos’.

    “We are lucky to draw from his fountain of wisdom and knowledge.

    “We can’t beat his records because he is already a martyr but we will pursue our dreams and mission with our vision.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Jakande died peacefully in his sleep last Thursday, a day after revalidating his membership of the All Progressives of Congress (APC).

  • How MKO Abiola, Tinubu, Afenifere begged Jakande to accept Abacha’s ministerial appointment – Family

    How MKO Abiola, Tinubu, Afenifere begged Jakande to accept Abacha’s ministerial appointment – Family

    More facts have emerged on how the late first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande was drafted to serve under the late former Head of State, Sani Abacha.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Jakande died peacefully in his sleep last Thursday, a day after revalidating his membership of the All Progressives of Congress (APC)

    Narrating what transpired as living witnesses, Head of the Jakande Family, Mr Kamaldeen Giwa and widow of the deceased, Abimbola said Jakande was persuaded by eminent Yoruba leaders at the time after severally rejecting the offer.

    The late Jakande was later Minister of Works and Housing under the Abacha regime.

    He was, thereafter, castigated for serving a military government that incarcerated Abiola for demanding the restoration of his June 12, 1993, presidential election mandate.

    Clearing the air on the issue when Afenifere, a pan Yoruba socio-political group, paid a condolence visit to the late Jakande’s Ilupeju, Lagos residence, on Wednesday, Giwa said leaders of Afenifere, including the late Adekunle Ajasin, appealed to Jakande to take up the ministerial nomination.

    Giwa, who said he witnessed the scenario, said: “Baba Jakande did not take any appointment on his own. It was with Bashorun Abiola that begged him to take it. I was at that meeting. Abiola came to this house around 2am with Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) and I think Adefuye (Senator Anthony) and said Baba (Jakande), you have to take this position (ministerial). Baba said ‘no.’ Then, MKO begged all of us there to persuade Baba to accept. Before Bashorun (Abiola) left, he said ‘whether you (Jakande) like it or not, tomorrow, your name will be announced as a minister.’ When he left, we now started to talk to Baba to accept the offer. There is no single person at that meeting that did not beg him. He declined.”

    The late Jakande’s widow, Abimbola said the meeting took place on Friday.

    According to her, on Saturday morning, many prominent people came to Jakande’s house to persuade him.

    She said: “They took breakfast here and discussed the matter till Sunday. They agreed to put the matter to vote. All of them voted in support of him serving in the Abacha’s government. It was only one person, Yomi (Shakirudeen Kinyomi) that voted against the decision. Baba later said he will consider it. He later bowed to their pressure.

    “When Abiola told him to accept the offer, he called Baba Ajasin and Ajasin gave him the go-ahead. The people also nominated Babatope (Ebenezer) and Osomo (Mobolaji). Osomo was not around when they swore them in, so they did her own the following day.”

    Giwa urged Afenifere leaders to correct the wrong impression by immortalising the late Jakande.

    “I believe strongly that Afenifere should also pursue a course where his name will be immortalised,” he said.

    Chief Supo Shonibare, who led the Afenifere delegation, described Jakande as a selfless leader and rare being.

    The late Jakande’s vision for Lagos, Shonibare said, was beyond the comprehension of the people then.

    “He wanted to transform Lagos to compete with other big cities in the developed world, hence his Metroline project. He laid down the foundation for good governance,” he said.

    He thanked Alhaja Abimbola for standing by her husband.

    Also, All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State Caretaker Committee, led by Babatunde Balogun, said the late Jakande lived a fulfilled and good life.

    Balogun said: “All the things he did are of benefits to many people. We would forever remember him for giant strides in infrastructure, education and many other things. Some of us are products of his free education,” he said.

     

  • Jakande was a political titan – Edwin Clark

    Jakande was a political titan – Edwin Clark

    Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has described the late Second Republic governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, as a political titan.

    In a tribute on Thursday entitled “Fare Thee Well, LKJ”, the former Federal Commissioner for Information stated that Jakande succeeded in carving a pristine niche for himself, on the Nigerian social and political landscapes.

    He described Jakande as a notable journalist, who rose to the Position of Editor of the Tribune Group of Newspapers, in its glorious days.

    According to him, “in politics, he held the Lagos Constituency for his Leader and Party, in a vice-like grip, before emerging as the First Civilian, and only Second Republic Governor of Lagos State, in 1979, re-elected in 1983.

    “He had a great romance with the media and public, because of his populist Projects, like the massive expansion of primary and secondary classrooms, and residential facilities, generally referred to as “Jakande Schools”, and “Jakande Estates”, respectively, though derisively by political rivals. That the Schools and Estates have, with inevitable modifications, survived for more than four decades, speaks volumes for his foresight in those areas of human development indices. I was not in his political camp, but respected his calm and brave reactions to criticisms”.

    Pa Clark reminisced that the last time he met Jakande face-to-face about 40 years ago during the Second Republic “when my Apapa GRA, Lagos, neighbour, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, invited me over, to his residence, to ask me to join their party, UPN.

  • In photos: First civilian governor of Lagos state, Jakande laid to rest

    In photos: First civilian governor of Lagos state, Jakande laid to rest

    The first civilian governor of Lagos state, Lateef Jakande has been laid to rest on Friday.

    The revered politician and journalist died on Thursday at the age of 91.

    A funeral prayer was observed for him at his residence in the Ilupeju area of Lagos.

    Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos state and Ibinkule Amosun, former governor of Ogun state, were among those present at the funeral.

     

     

  • Tinubu, Ambode, Osoba mourn Jakande

    Tinubu, Ambode, Osoba mourn Jakande

    A former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, has described the first civilian governor of the state, Lateef Jakande, as the ‘last of the political titans’.

    Mr Tinubu, who was governor of Lagos between 1999 and 2007, made the remark in a condolence statement on Thursday in Lagos.

    Mr Jakande died in the early hours of Thursday at 91.

    The deceased was a journalist, an administrator and politician who served as the governor of Lagos State between 1979 and 1983.

    According to Mr Tinubu, “Papa Jakande could appropriately be described as the ‘last of the titans’ ranking with the likes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Pa Abraham Adesanya.”

    Others, according to Mr Tinubu, include Bola Ige, Olabiyi Onabanjo, Balarabe Musa and Aminu Kano, among others.

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) national leader said the late Mr Jakande was also a “mature statesman never given to histrionics or fanning the embers of disunity”.

    Mr Tinubu’s statement, titled “We Celebrate, Not Mourn Jakande,” said: “Today, we lost a great soul. Pa Lateef Kayode Jakande exemplified the best of Lagos and Nigeria.

    “Showing his extraordinary natural ability, Pa Jakande was largely self-educated, yet he rose to become a man of great knowledge and a prominent figure in Nigerian journalism.

    The deceased stood as one of the most incisive and brilliant editorialists of his generation who practiced journalism with the most audacious courage in defence of freedom, liberty and equity even in the thick of vicious military dictatorship.

    “As an accomplished journalist, Pa Jakande shone even more brightly as a governor and true leader of Lagos State.

    “Whatever we have been able to accomplish in Lagos State is because of the groundwork Pa Jakande set out before us.

    “He is the inspirational father of modern Lagos State,” he said.

    Jakande symbolised humility, uprightness and honesty – Ambode

    For the immediate past governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, the news of Mr Jakande’s passing “came as a rude shock.”

    Mr Ambode, in a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Habib Haruna, said the life of Mr Jakande symbolised humility, uprightness and honesty.

    ”He was ripe at age, but we had hoped he would live to celebrate a centenary,” Mr Ambode said.

    “He was an exemplary leader, a perfect gentleman and a man of integrity and character.”

    According to him, Lagos will forever be grateful to Mr Jakande for his unparalleled service.

    ”When I was in office, I always looked forward to his fatherly advice and encouragement. Aside from that was his visible presence at state events. Even his health condition never deterred him from giving his support.

    ”This shows how he lived a very humble and upright life throughout his sojourn here on earth,” Mr Ambode said.

    ‘Fall of an elephant’ -Osoba

    According to the former governor of Ogun, Olusegun Osoba, Mr Jakande’s death can be likened to the fall of an elephant.

    Mr Osoba, who paid glowing tributes to Jakande in a statement in Lagos, said: “An Iroko tree, as well as an elephant, has fallen”.

    He said the late Mr Jakande would be remembered as a personification of the best in journalism and a political colossus.

    “He singlehandedly founded both the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.

    “He was the first black African chairman of the International Press Institute made up of publishers and editors all over the world,” Mr Osoba said.

    The former Ogun governor also noted that Mr Jakande was a foundation member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

    He described the deceased as an astute politician “who left giant footprints wherever he had the opportunity to serve at the state and federal level”.

    ”As governor of Lagos State, he ran a daily ‘political clinic’ where citizens consulted him on issues,” he said.