The League of Soft-Sell Publishers has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to consider naming a national monument to immortalise the late former Lagos State governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
In a statement, signed by it’s Public Relations director, Mr. Tunde Moshood, the group led by veteran Journalist, Prince Dayo Asaju, noted that “the death of the first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande on Thursday 11th February, 2021 at 91 is a monumental loss to the country, Lagos and above all, the noble profession of journalism”.
Going further, the group said, ‘The frontline media practitioner of note, Alhaji Jakande deserves more than a platinum honour going by his antecedents and impressive track records in governance.
“There’s no gainsaying the fact that the housing and educational friendly policies of the outstanding administrator can never be rivalled in Lagos and Nigeria as a whole.
“The deceased, first and foremost was an elder statesman and one of the nation’s historic leaders, whose imprints and footsteps on the sand of time will remain for time immemorial.
“Aside being the first ever civilian governor of Lagos, a feat no other person can beat, Alhaji Lateef Jakande’s imposing management scorecards, as far as administrative performance is concerned in Lagos, will be hard to overturn by any government.
“For the records, the high-flying member of the fourth estate of the realm was the architect and pioneer of the modern day Lagos and his development templates on housing and education policies are yet to be equaled.
“Amongst his iconic achievements were the establishment of the Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), construction of the State Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja and now old Governor’s Office, known as Round House.
“Other vital accomplishments of the late patriot and indefatigable politician are the building of 30,000 housing estate units, Gbagada General Hospital, Ikorodu General Hospital, Lekki/Epe Express Way, Lagos State Television (LTV 8), Water Works in Shasha, Agege, Shomolu, Apapa and Badagry, and Parking Meters in Central Lagos.
“He also constructed 29 Secondary Schools, the Agric Hub, Oko Oba, the Lagos Metroline project, Amuwo Odofin, Ijaiye, Dolphin, Iponri and Ipaja low cost housing estates.
“Alhaji Jakande, who was said to have driven his personal car and lived in personal house even as governor was also the first ever governor to present a budget of N1billion in Nigeria.
“Described as the most conservative man of his time, Alhaji Jakande successfully moved civil servants to the new Alausa Secretariat after completion.
“History would be on the side of Alhaji Jakande as his legacy students, who enjoyed his free education in those days, are now doctors, engineers, lawyers, successful men and women in different fields of human endeavours.
“The late politician, journalist and perhaps last of the titans was a colossus and a friend of the poor, who gave his position as governor all the passion it deserved.
“His four years and three months trajectory as governor are yet to be rivalled with many years of civil rule, so far in many states of the federation.
“He is a rare a gem and merits to be immortalised with a national monument.
“Repose, like they say is necessary to great efforts, and he who is never idle, must not labour in vain!”, the group stated.
