The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has expressed shock over the death of its pioneer president and first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
Jakande died on Thursday in Lagos at the age of 91.
The association, in a statement jointly signed by its President, Mr Kabiru Yussuf and General Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, on Thursday in Abuja described Jakande’s death as an irreparable loss to the nation.
“The nation has lost a great patriot, an advocate of good governance and democracy.
“NPAN condoled with members of the pen fraternity, his immediate and political families as well as the Lagos State Government, on this irreparable loss,” the statement said.
Life and Times of Lateef Jakande, 1st Civilian Governor of Lagos State
According to the statement, Jakande, a journalist, publisher and politician, was the pioneer president of the esteemed NPAN, from where he was “loaned to politics” in 1979.
“Between 1969 and 1979, 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, Jakande transferred these core values from newspapering / newsroom into politics and acquitted himself,” it said.
The statement said that Jakande 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 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,” it added.
While expressing grief over the death, it urged politicians to learn from the life and politics of Jakande and emulate his modesty, selflessness and passion for the people.
