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In the evening hour of yesterday, spread the ascension of one of the greatest politician in Nigeria and former governor of Lagos State, Lateef Kayode Jakande (LKJ).
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According to reports, he died in the early hour of Thursday at the age of 91.
SUMMARY OF LKJ’s life as published by the PUNCH
1.Jakande, who was born on July 23, 1929, was fondly called Baba Kekere, in reference to him being the younger version of former Western Region Premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
2. According to his profile on the Lagos government website, Jakande’s parents were from Omu-Aran in Kwara State.
3. He worked at Nigerian Tribune, where he rose through the ranks to become the Editor-in-Chief.
4. It was Awolowo who encouraged him to run for the governorship seat of Lagos in 1979 and he won on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria.
5. His time in office was terminated by the military coup of the current president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)…
on December 31 1983.
6. LKJ as he was also called lived a simple life including staying in his personal house and driving his personal car to work.
7. After the December 1983 coup, Jakande was charged, prosecuted and convicted of treason, although later he was pardoned.
8. Some of the legacies of his time in office include the Lagos State University, schools and low-cost housing estates popularly known as Jakande schools or estates, commercial boat transport plying Mile 2 to Marina, free education and more.
9. LKJ was the founding father of Nigerian Institute of Journalism in 1963, the brain behind the establishment of the Newspapers’ Proprietors Association of Nigeria and Nigerian Guild of Editors.
10. Throughout his lifetime, Jakande was never awarded a national honour, despite calls by notable Nigerians.
