Ambode: I Hoped Jakande Would Live For 100 Years

The immediate past Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, said he had hoped that the state’s first civilian governor, Lateef Jakande, would live for 100 years.

Jakande, who was Lagos governor from 1979 to 1983, died at the age of 91 on Thursday.

Ambode described the deceased as one of his go-to sources of “fatherly advice” when he was governor of the state.

Speaking in a statement by his executive assistant, Hunsu Peter, the former Lagos governor said Jakande lived a life worthy of emulation.

“The news of the demise of Baba Jakande came to me as a rude shock. He was ripe at age, but we had hoped he would live to celebrate a centenary. He was an exemplary leader, a perfect gentleman and a man of integrity and character. Lagos will forever be grateful to him for his unparalled service.

“When I was in office I always looked forward to his fatherly advice and encouragement. Apart from that was his visible presence at state events, even with his health condition never deterred him from giving his support. This shows how he lived a very humbled and upright life throughout his sojourn here on earth,” said Ambode.

Prior to joining politics, Jakande was a journalist and one-time Editor-in-Chief of the Nigerian Tribune newspaper.

He was the first president of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and had served as minister of works under the regime of late military dictator, Sani Abacha.