•Late Lateef Jakande
The family of the first civilian governor of Lagos State, Lateef Jakande, yesterday, marked his fifth year remembrance with special prayers, describing his legacy as incomparable.
Chief Imam of Nawair-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdulmajeed Ayinla, who led a Fidau prayer, prayed that God would increase the deceased’s light and grant him eternal rest, reports The Guardian.
He noted that during his lifetime, Jakande made significant contributions to human and social development.
In his lecture, Associate Professor at the Lagos State University (LASU), Saheed Timehin, called on Nigerians to reflect deeply on the enduring legacies left behind by the late Jakande, emphasising that true legacy lies in the positive impact one leaves on humanity.
He described Jakande as a leader who made remarkable marks in various human endeavours, particularly in education and journalism.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Homes Affairs, Ibrahim Layode, described the late Jakande as a visionary leader who transformed the state in ways that continue to shape governance in the state.
He commended Jakande for his policies that expanded access to free education, as well as in the housing sector, where thousands of families have a stable apartment to live.
In his tribute to the late Jakande, a retired professor of Sociology, University of Lagos, Lai Olurode, described him as a model of ethical leadership, fiscal discipline, and people-centred governance.
Olurode, who was represented by the Weekend Editor of The Guardian, Dr Kabir Garba, highlighted the former governor’s rejection of flamboyance and what he described as the “wasteful paraphernalia” that often surrounds public office holders in Nigeria.
He said: “No wonder that today, Jakande remains evergreen in our memories, though he served only one-term in office. Of course, he was never a perfect man. He has his weaknesses as a human being, but an overall assessment will place him well above his peers in a country with many psychologically wrecked minds, where materialism is all that defines the essence of human beings.”
