BY SEUN JOSEPH
The former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the National President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Alh. Aliyu Wamakko, have mourned the demise of the pioneer founder of REDAN and former Governor of Lagos State, Alh Lateef Jakande, who passed on Thursday at the age of 91.
In separate solidarity messages to the deceased families, Atiku, while expressing his sober feelings in a signed statement said it is with a mixed feeling of soberness and joy that he joined relatives and admirers to mourn the demise of the late first civilian governor of Lagos State, popularly known as LKJ.
He said: “I am sober because Jakande until his passing today (Thursday) remained one of the last icons of our nationhood and in whose life are enormous examples that we can get inspiration from in the much-needed drive in rebuilding our psyche as a people.
“In the same breath, I am happy that the late Jakande lived a remarkable life by his enigmatic stature as a journalist, an administrator and a politician.
According to the former VP, his legacies in Lagos State, where he was the first civilian governor, remains emblematic of good governance and infrastructure development, not just in Lagos State but in the whole of the country.
He added that his works in promoting qualitative public education and welfare in public service will continue to stand for him as a glowing tribute of the life of service that he lived.
In his tribute, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, described the exit of the Second Republic governor of Lagos State, Alh Lateef Kayode Jakande, with mixed feelings.
Aregbesola, said Jakande, was blessed by the Almighty God, with long life and a good and fulfilling life in the service of humanity.
He has now gone to rest. He finished well. This is a thing of great joy; and it is a great feat we all pray for and seek from God.
His departure however left a great void, an earthly separation that comes with grief and a helpless sense of the loss of a person of irreplaceable value, he added.
The Minister referred to Jakande as an administrative genius, stressing that all his policies were people centred education, housing, community development and so on. He recorded huge human and infrastructural development and with a stroke of genius, was able to maintain an unusual balance between the duo.
According to him, the former Lagos State governor, also epitomised the four cardinal programmes of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), the platform under which he contested. He brought a phenomenal turnaround in Lagos.
His legacies are unalterable. The housing development programme, with the houses still standing after four decades; the cost-effective schools are still in operation; Lagos State University; Lagos State Polytechnic; and other monuments that characterised his impactful administration, he added.
Aregbesola, said: “He was not our regular politician. He was too consumed by the passion for the masses. He lived a spartan and abstemious life, avoiding extravagance. Even as governor, he lived in his own house and rode his personal car.
“He was a thorough progressive, one of the five Titanic UPN governors that held sway in the Second Republic.
“The others were Prof Ambrose Alli of the then Bendel State, Chief Bisi Onabanjo of Ogun State, Chief Bola Ige of the Old Oyo State and Chief Michael Ajasin of the Old Ondo State. They all predeceased him and will now be hopefully reunited in the great beyond. His death has brought a final closure to that glorious era.
“Since his exit from political participation, he lived a dignified quiet life as an elder statesman and private citizen. He will be sorely missed.”
Also in a special tribute to the founder of REDAN, its current President, Wamakko, described the death of Alh Lateef Jakande as a deep loss to Nigerians and the real estate sector, the sector, where he was associated to have so much impact.
In a press statement issued in Abuja, he said the late first executive governor of Lago state and pioneer president of the Real Estate Developers’ Association of Nigeria (REDAN) will be greatly missed by the Board of trustees of the association for his fatherly advice and contributions in moving the housing sector forward.
Wamakko prayed that the Almighty Allah granted late Jakande a place in paradise, just as he condoled with his family, friends and associates.
Jakande, was reputed to have built the most affordable housing estate in Nigerian history when he was the Lagos state governor.