The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has mourned Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the first Civilian Governor of Lagos State, who died on Thursday.
Jakande, the pioneer president of NPAN, died at the age of 91.
In a statement by its President, Kabiru Yussuf, and Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, the association said the deceased is a reference point for performance not just in Lagos but across the country as he was the Minister of Works under the Sanni Abacha administration.
The statement read, “It was with great shock that we learnt of the passage today, Thursday, February 11, 2021, of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, the first civilian governor of Lagos State. He was 91.
“Alhaji Jakande, journalist, publisher and politician, was the pioneer President of our esteemed Association, the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), from where he was loaned to politics in 1979.
“Between 1969 and 1979, Alh. Jakande, midwifed the Association from infancy and it is to his eternal glory that the NPAN became the octopus that it is today.
“Austere, selfless, people oriented, Alhaji Jakande transferred these core values from newspapering / newsroom into politics and acquitted himself.
“He became a reference point for performance not just in Lagos State which he served as a governor but across the country. He was also Minister of Works under the Abacha administration
“It is on record that Alhaji Jakande throughout his tenure, lived in his personal house in Ilupeju area of Lagos and also used his personal car, apart from other landmark projects consummated by his administration.
“While we commiserate with members of the pen fraternity, his immediate and political families as well as the Lagos State Goverment, on this irreparable loss, we could not but ask our today’s politicians to learn from the life and politics of Alh. Jakande and emulate his modesty, selflessness and passion for the people.
“The nation has lost a great patriot, advocate of good governance and democracy.”
In a related development, the International Press Institute( IPI) has also mourned Jakande.
In a statement, Kabiru Yussuf Chairman, IPI Nigeria, and Raheem Adedoyin, its Secretary, the organisation said, “The death of its former leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Alh. Lateef Jakande. Alhaji Jakande was not only a celebrated editor in Nigeria, he was a devoted member of IPI and President of IPI Executive Board. We send our Condolences to the family of our departed leader and the media community.”
