According to the Premium Times, during the inaugural edition of the Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture, Seyi Jakande, the son of the first elected governor of Lagos State, revealed intimate details about his father’s life.
The event, organized by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Ikeja, Lagos, aimed to honor the memory of the influential politician and journalist.
Lateef Jakande, born in 1929, served as the civilian governor of Lagos from 1979 to 1983. Later, he took up the position of federal minister of works and housing under the military regime of Sani Abacha.
Despite his strong principles, he made an unexpected decision to join Abacha’s government, as revealed by his son during the lecture. Seyi Jakande said that in 1993, after the annulment of the presidential election, his father was approached by Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the poll.
Abiola appealed to Lateef Jakande to serve under Abacha’s rule, despite it conflicting with his policies and principles. Reluctant at first, Jakande sought the opinion of his committee of friends and ultimately agreed, as the majority believed he should accept the offer.
Speaking about his father’s achievements as a federal minister, he highlighted the challenge they faced due to limited funds. However, Lateef Jakande, always resourceful, came up with the idea of Banana Island.
By reclaiming land and selling it to the wealthy, they generated funds to subsidize the housing scheme and overcome financial constraints.
Furthermore, he emphasized that his father never allocated any land to himself or any family members. He commended his mother for her selflessness and for allowing Lateef Jakande’s legacy to take center stage.
Even during his tenure as governor, Mrs. Jakande lived with him at his Ilupeju residence, rejecting any special treatment as the first lady.
He concluded his speech by urging the state government to rename Lagos State University (LASU) as Lateef Jakande University as a fitting tribute to his father’s memory.
Temmyabbe (
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