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.
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Elder statesman, Edwin Clark has said he was sobered by the death of former Lagos State governor, Chief Lateef Jakande.
In a statement he personally signed, the former Information Commissioner described the late Jakande as a pleasant personality who carved a niche for himself in journalism and politics.
Chief Clark who prayed for eternal peace for the soul of the late administrator of Lagos State further described him as someone who was implacably firm in his Cultural and Political roots.
The statement read in part:” Sobered by its very sudden, sad impact, yet buoyed by good memories of a life well-lived, I join millions of Nigerians in mourning a Titan of our time, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, LKJ, whose demise, yesterday, has just been announced.
Fellow Citizens of Lagos State,
I have just been sworn-in for the second term of office as your Governor by the learned Chief Judge of Lagos State, Mr Justice Adetunji Adefarasin. The Swearing-in is the direct result of your own decision on August 13, 1983, when you elected me Governor by an overwhelming majority. By this decision, you have done me a very great honour.
I accept this honour in all humility and with a sense of responsibility. I am grateful to you for the opportunity you have thus given me to serve you for another four years. I am particularly impressed by the size of the majority with which you have elected me for a second term of office.
On Saturday, 28th, July 1979, you elected me, by 559,070 votes to 126,805, the first Executive Governor of Lagos State. Today, as a result of that election, the Chief Judge of this State, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, has invested me with the office. This is an inestimable honour of which I am very conscious. It is a call to service that I take very seriously in all humility. And I want to assure you that I shall spare no effort to justify the confidence which you, the good people of Lagos State, have demonstrably reposed in me.