Ambode, Obasanjo, Afenifere break silence over Lateef Jakande’s death

Akinwunmi Ambode, the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, has expressed great shock over the demise of the first civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.

Jakande died in the early hours of Thursday, February 11 at the age of 91. Ambode, in a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Habib Haruna, said that the news of the demise of the Second Republic governor came to him as a rude shock.

”He was ripe at age, but we had hoped he would live to celebrate a centenary,” Ambode said. He said that the life of Jakande symbolised humility, uprightness and honesty.

“He was an exemplary leader, a perfect gentleman and a man of integrity and character,” Ambode said. According to him, Lagos will forever be grateful to 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,” Ambode said.
The former governor also sympathised with the entire family of Jakande and especially his wife, Alhaja Abimbola Jakande, who had stood solidly by Baba throughout the period of his later years.

”This is a big loss to the people of Lagos State and Nigerians in general. “But we take solace in the fact that he left huge footprints that will remain indelible in the minds of progressives,” Ambode said.

Meanwhile, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Thursday mourned death of former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, saying he never lived in a government house nor drove a government car.

Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, said Jakande served Lagos without greed and covetousness.

“Afenifere deeply mourns the death of the first executive governor of Lagos state Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande at the age of 91.

“Alhaji Jakande was the last of the LOOBO Governors who faithfully implemented the UPN (United Party of Nigeria) five cardinal programmes.

“His implementation of the free education programme, especially the phasing out of the shift programme in Lagos schools was swift and revolutionary,” Afenifere said.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has also explained what he knew about late first civilian governor of Lagos, Alhaji Lateef Jakande in a letter to the deceased’s wife.

Obasanjo said Jakande served the country principally through journalism and through newspaper management before becoming an active politician.

In his condolence letter to the wife of the late first civilian governor, Alhaja Sikirat Abimbola, copy which was made to newsmen through his Media Assistant, Kehinde Akinyemi, in Abeokuta, Obasanjo said Jakande deserved all accolades poured on him over his death.

Obasanjo who went down memory lane on the pen profession of the late governor, stated that his success catapulted him to the height he got to in public office.

According to him: “He served this nation principally through journalism and through newspaper management before becoming an active politician. It must not be forgotten that he served as an Editor-in-Chief of the NIGERIAN TRIBUNE at a stage in his career where he acquitted himself as a positively-minded, focused and imaginative personality.

“Indeed, he steered the company to editorial credibility and profitability and this has remained a reference point in the history of the organization till today. It is with similar verve and energy that he pursued his work at John West Publications which was established by him to publish The Lagos News.