Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that the first civilian governor of the state, Late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, remained a reference point for governance.
Sanwo-Olu said this on Wednesday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan Stadium, during a Day of Tributes in honour of the first civilian governor of Lagos.
Jakande died on Feb. 11 at the age of 91.
He said that Jakande, popularly called Baba Kekere, was a man who lived a full life; a life rich not in material things but in the things that truly matter – integrity, honour, service and character.
According to him, late Jakande truly demonstrated that the real essence of power is for the advancement of the welfare and empowerment of the greatest number of the people.
”He understood the power of education as the most potent weapon that can break the vicious cycle of poverty. He deployed it in a unique manner.
”Today, we celebrate a great man, a selfless leader, a rare gem, a quintessential politician, an administrator par excellence, the first civilian governor of Lagos State, architect of modern Lagos.
”Through his outstanding and unequalled achievements, Alhaji Lateef Jakande has written his name in gold.
”He will continue to be remembered by generations as a reference point in good governance, welfarism, visionary leadership, selfless leadership, transformational leadership and leadership by example.
”Baba was a transformational leader, who led by example. His commitment and dedication to building the Greater Lagos of our dream, a Lagos that works for all, was unequalled,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said that the first civilian governor served the people with all his heart and never saw his position as a route to personal enrichment and demystified public office through his simple and spartan lifestyle.
He said that Jakande had set a standard that successive administrations would continue to strive to live up to and maintain.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said that late Jakande lived the life of what he believed and preached.
The deputy governor said that his late father, Alhaji Olatunji Hamzat, served as Commissioner for Transportation in Jakande’s cabinet, which afforded him opportunity to learn from the late Jakande’s administrative qualities.
”He was a leader and a team leader. Lagos State will remember his free education which gave many Lagosians opportunity to go to school.
”LKJ was a man of many parts, renowned journalist, detribalised Nigerian. He had a blueprint, he left a template,” Hamzat said.
While eulogising his late former boss, Prince Bayo Osiyemi, who served as Chief Press Secretary to Jakande, said that the late governor was a man of honour, who kept to his promises.
Osiyemi said that late Jakande implemented the four cardinal programmes of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), the party under which he governed Lagos.
The Secretary to the State Government during Jakande’s administration, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, said that late Jakande created lasting impression on the people he led.
”He was an epitome of discipline, a lover of his people, a passionate progressive who pursued whatever he believed in,” Basorun said.
Late Alhaji Lateef Jakande served as first civilian of Lagos State from 1979 to 1983.
Some of his achievements during his four-year tenure were building of the General Hospital, Gbagada, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos Television (LTV), and 13 low cost housing estates.
He also opened up the Lekki-Epe road axis, built the Alausa Round House which served as the office of the governor for several years.
Jakande established the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and gave free education at all levels.
