Jakande's remains laid to rest

The remains of elder statesman and first civilian governor of Lagos State, Lateef Jakande, were on Friday interred at the Vaults and Gardens private cemetery Ikoyi, Lagos.

The funeral service was conducted by Islamic scholars and clerics from different communities and mosques in Lagos State, who prayed for the repose of the deceased and the family members he left behind.

Leading the Lagos State Government delegation to the funeral was Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, accompanied by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat; Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola; and other members of the State Executive Council.

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; wife of the deceased, Alhaja Abimbola Jakande; Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu and the children of deceased, during the funeral of the first civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, at the Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi, on Friday, February 12, 2021.

The remains of the late Mr Jakande, escorted by his wife, Abimbola, children, Deji and Seyi, among others, families, relatives, associates and eminent personalities, were brought into the Vaults and Gardens Ikoyi at 5:19 p.m.

The remains of the deceased, conveyed by TOS Funeral Ambulance, were brought into the vaults in a MIC Funeral Casket guarded by six pallbearers.

Sighting the ambulance from far, security agencies and sympathisers who were standing outside the compound of the cemetery sang the National Anthem and other renditions for several minutes.

The shout ‘Jakande! Jakande!! Jakande,’ which was used to bid the former Lagos State governor farewell, also rented the air.

Some of the dignitaries that attended the funeral service were former governors of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba and Ibikunle Amosun; former deputy governor of Lagos State, Sinatu Ojikutu; All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, politicians and journalists, among others.

Lagos State Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu (third right); Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (third left); former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba (second left); former Lagos Commissioner, Dr. Tola Kasali (right); Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola (right behind) and sons of the deceased during the funeral of the first civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, at the Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi, on Friday, February 12, 2021.

Speaking earlier during a special prayer in honour of the former governor at the Ilupeju residence of the deceased, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the late Mr Jakande as an embodiment of all the positives.

Mr Hamzat, who represented Governor Sanwo-Olu at the event, said the former governor was a great man who cared and served his people meritoriously when he had the opportunity to serve them.

“Baba Jakande was just an example of what all of us should aspire to be. A great man, humble, selfless, loyal, and dedicated. So, he is an embodiment of all the positives. A great man that served his people when he had the opportunity to serve. A man that cared for the people and a fantastic journalist,” he said.

Mr Hamzat, while paying tribute to the late Mr Jakande, stressed the need for political leaders in the country to emulate the former governor by being humble and loyal to the country.

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Recalling his personal encounter with the first civilian governor of Lagos State, Mr Hamzat said the deceased showed up at his graduation at the University of Ibadan in 1986.

Signing the condolence register, the deputy governor wrote, “Baba was a great leader in the State of Lagos. The developmental strides he put in place are unprecedented and a greater leader in Nigeria. A thoroughbred Awoist and a man of the people.”

Mr Jakande , the first civilian governor of Lagos State and former Minister of Works, died on Thursday at 91