Former Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, is dead.
The late statesman was reported dead on Thursday morning in Lagos at age 91.
News of his passage was announced by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Thursday.
Sanwo-Olu said, “With gratitude to God for a worthy life well spent in the service of Lagos State, Nigeria and humanity, I announce the death of a venerable statesman, outstanding politician, public administrator and the first Civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.
Jakande was governor of Lagos State from 1979 to 1983. He was later appointed Minister of Works by the General Sani Abacha regime in 1993.
Jakande, who marked his 90th birthday on Tuesday, July 23, 2020, was a journalist per excellent.
The late politician, who first worked with the Daily Service and then in 1953, joined the Nigerian Tribune where he rose to become the Editor-in-Chief.
Jakande left Tribune in 1975, and established John West Publications on whose platform he published The Lagos News.
He was the first President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN.
He became governor of Lagos State from 1979 to 1983 on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN.
The former governor, fondly called Baba Kekere, was Minister of Works under the Sani Abacha military regime from 1993 to 1998.
Although he was born in Epetedo area of Lagos State on July 23, 1929, his parents hailed from Omu-Aran in the present day Kwara State.
After the military government headed by Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon took over the government in 1983, he was charged, prosecuted and convicted of treason; but was later pardoned.
The late Jakande later became member of different political parties at different times, among which was the All Nigeria Peoples Party and the Action Party of Nigeria.
