Jakande: The titan that took Lagos to modernity takes a bow
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Deputy Editor
FONDLY called Baba Kekere, he was the governor of Lagos State elected in the “Class of 79” Governors of the Second Republic, under the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, founded by late sage and nationalist, Chief Jeremiah Oyeniyi Obafemi Awolowo.
Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, also called LKJ was, as governor, contemporary of the likes of Alhaji Balarabe Musa of Kaduna State, Jim Nwobodo of Anambra State, Sam Mbakwe of Imo State, and back home in the South-west, he had late Olabisi Onabanjo of Ogun State, Ambrose Alli of the defunct Bendel State, Bola Ige of old Oyo State and Adekunle Ajasin of old Ondo State as political actors and state governors.
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Tears and emotions flowed freely on Friday evening as the remains of respected elder statesman and father of modern Lagos, Alhaji Lateef Jakande were buried at the Volts and Gardens Cemetery in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.
Jakande, who died on Thursday at the age of 91, was Lagos governor between October 1, 1979 and December 31, 1983.
The interment was preceded by Islamic prayers at his residence in the Ilupeju area of the state.
His son, Deji, other family members, and respected Lagosians cried as his body was being interred after the Muslim prayers by the Chief Imam of Lagos, Abou-Nolla.
Fondly called
Baba Kekere,
Jakande was the governor of Lagos State from 1979 to 1983 on the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).
He later became Minister of Works during the
Sani Abacha military regime between 1993 and 1998.
Jakande, who was also a veteran journalist, was born in Epetedo Area of Lagos State on July 23, 1923, to parents from Omu-Aran in Kwara.
He studied at Lagos Public School at Enu-Owa, Lagos Island, then at Burnham Memorial Methodist School, Port Harcourt from 1934 to 1943.
He also studied at King s College, Lagos in 1943 and then went to Ilesa Grammar School in 1945 where he edited a Literary Paper called the ‘Quarterly Mirror’.
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Our Reporters
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, among others, on Thursday, mourned the death of the first civilian governor of the state, Lateef Jakande.
Jakande died earlier on Thursday at the age of 91 in his Lagos residence.
One of his children, Seyi, who confirmed the death, added that Jakande, also a former Minister of Works, would be buried today (Friday).
How Jakande died – Son
Seyi explained to our correspondent during a visit to the deceased’s residence in Lagos that Jakande died in his sleep around 11am.
According to the son, it was the deceased’s aides who discovered that he was not breathing.
By Our Correspondent
The Pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, the Afenifere, has mourned the former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, who died yesterday at the age of 91 as a leader who served the Centre of Excellence from 1979 to 1983 without greed.
The Afenifere, in a tribute entitled “Adieu Our LKJ” that was signed yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, described Jakande as the last of the LOOBO governors who faithfully implemented the Unity Party of Nigeria’s (UPN) five cardinal programmes in the second republic.
The socio-cultural organisation noted that Jakande’s implementation of the free education program, especially the phasing out of the shift program in Lagos schools, was swift and revolutionary.