Jakande: It’s end of a great era of progressive politics — Ikuforiji

Former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has described the death of the first civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, as an end of a great era of progressive politics.

Ikuforiji, in a statement he personally signed, said he felt a great sense of loss when he learnt of the passing of Jakande, noting that it was not just about how long he lived, but the footprints he left behind.

He said: “The first thing that came to my mind, I felt a sense of great loss. It’s not about baba’s age, it’s about what he lived for and what he did. His passage signifies the end of a great era, the era of progressive politics, progressivism in the South West and indeed Nigeria.

“There were few who have passed through this line who we can point to have done this much as baba did for Lagos. Baba in his days, he ruled Lagos at the peak of his life. Baba laid a solid foundation for Lagos to take off and he touched the lives of all Lagosians in virtually every aspect of living.  From education to health, to housing to infrastructure and road networks, even the pockets of the people, baba did so much.”

The former speaker also took time to recall some of Jakande’s sterling achievements which stood his administration out till date.

According to him, the number of housing units Jakande built between 1979 and 1983, a period of only four years, “I don’t think if you combine all the programmes of all the governors in Nigeria today, they have not built that number for the people within that same period.

“The number of schools he established and the speed with which he got rid of School Shift system where by you have three shifts a day-morning, afternoon and evening classes for different set of people. He cancelled it. Even the military governor told him when he was campaigning that he should stop using it to campaign that it was unachievable. But baba achieved it within few weeks of being in office.

“He built the real civil service. The Alausa secretariat was one of his achievements; he built the House of Assembly within one year. The road from VI to Epe, Jakande built it and that road created the most viable economic corridor probably in Africa.”

Ikuforiji said Jakande also exemplified humility and integrity while he occupied office as governor of Lagos state, noting that part of the health challenges he had in his latter years was a result of the time and efforts he put to public service.

He said: “This was service in human form, that was Jakande. Yes, as a human being, he will have his own shortcomings, but the better part of him towers far above whatever shortcomings he may have had as a human being.

“He never thought of amassing wealth, he rendered service and he served the people of Lagos. In four years and three months, remains unrivalled, there is no parallel.

“In party politics, everyone was carried along. He worked for the people and the people worked for the State. He would give contracts for drainage repairs, road repairs to ordinary members of Groups. The drainage was measured with rope by the Ministry of works for each individual. You can imagine how many people benefitted and as they were working, they were being paid.

“Many of the houses he built are still standing till date. That was why I felt the man was at some point neglected by Lagos, that was why I decided with my team that regardless of his shortcomings, we needed to respect and honour him. I am a happy man today that I and honourable members of the House did that honour to him and till his death he remained in the limelight. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”