League of Soft-Sell Publishers Wants Jakande Immortalised

The League of Soft-Sell Publishers has urged President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to immortalise the late former civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.

This was contained in a press release by the group’s spokesperson, Tunde moshood, entitled; “Late Lateef Jakande-The Unsung National Hero, Why Buhari must immortalize him,” and dated Friday, 12th February, 2021.

According to the group; “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.

“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 League stressed that 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.

They pointed out in the press release that aside being the first ever civilian governor of Lagos State, a feat, which they said 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.”

The group recalled that “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 equalled.

“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 and now old Governor’s Office, known as Round House.”

They emphasised that “other monumental and rare 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.”

It was added that Jakande 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 release read.

They said further that “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.”

The League stated that the four years and three months trajectory of Jakande as governor were yet to be unrivalled with many years of civilian rule so far in many states of the federation.

The late former governor was described as a rare a gem, who they said merited 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 League of Soft-Sell Publishers is appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to consider naming a national monument to immortalise this outstanding achiever, who came saw and conquered for humanity,” the League said in the release.