Lagos Assembly Honours Jakande

LAGOS, July 02, (THEWILL) - Ahead the conferment of a national merit award on him, Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) today bestowed on the state’s first civilian governor, Chief Lateef Kayode Jakande an outstanding award for excellent performance while he was governor.

The award was conferred on him at a special parliamentary session held at the Assembly Complex in the state secretariat to mark the third anniversary of the Assembly. The lawmakers described the first civilian governor of the state as a true and faithful leader.

Jakande was conferred with an award, which the Assembly tagged, "The legislative Lifetime Outstanding Performance Award (LLOPA) 2010" was held during the parliamentary session, marking the third anniversary of the ongoing sixth Assembly.

At the session attended by such stakeholders as Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Otunba Henry Ajomale, Senators Olorunnibe Mamora and Ganiyu Solomon, all the 40 legislators lamented that all successive government since 1983 never honoured Jakande, who was described as "an icon and a living legend in the history of Nigeria."

It was expressed at the parliamentary session that the Assembly would absolutely and categorically support any move or overture that would immortalize Jakande whose many achievements remained till date a standard for all governments across the nation.

Speaking at the session, Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji reflected on the achievements of Jakande while he was the governor of the state, lamenting that in spite of his laudable records, he never embezzled or embarked on frivolous projects.

According to the speaker, Pa Jakande was busy mapping out strategies and consulting his superiors on how to better the life of a common Lagosian and Nigerian residents in the state.

Ikuforiji added: "We have observed with great regret that those we ought to appreciate and immortalize are abandoned to their own fate; even here in Lagos we are guilty of this. This is why we in the Lagos state Assembly decided to appreciate Alhaji Lateef Jakande whose legacies had not been judiciously appreciated; we will not wait till he dies before we honour and immortalize him."

Ikuforiji recalled how Jakande ran an open government between 1979 and 1983, stating that Pa Jakande operated a transparent administration to the admiration of all the progressives.

He said: "The administration of Pa Jakande constructed over 20,000 housing units and free primary and secondary schools education. As a governor, he set many exemplary moves like his mentor, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who never relied on the glamour of office.

"When Pa. Jakande was the governor, there was no record that he embezzled public funds. He never robbed Peter to pay Paul. He built the state secretariat and the State House of Assembly we are all enjoying right now. He established the state radios and televisions as well as the state water and refuse boards in August 1980. 　

"Jakande is a committed Lagosian. He is a virtuous man, who served Lagos and his party. It is disheartening that he is not accorded the deserving respect and honour in the state as if all he did was not needed. To us in the state Assembly, he is our role model; he has taught us to govern with modest and fear of God. We thank God for your lifestyle and exemplary leadership in Lagos and Nigeria at large," Ikuforiji said.

But the speaker expressed misgiving at the plan of the federal government to confer a national merit honour on Pa Jakande at the federal capital territory (FCT), saying it was a belated effort.

According to the speaker, I caught the wind that Pa. Jakande was billed for Abuja today to receive a national award, I swiftly convinced the children to assist the House by ensuring that he attends this ceremony meant for only him alone and not a jamboree.

The session was witnessed by former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former Ekiti State Governor, Otunba Adebayo, former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Musiliu Smith and some members of the State Executive Councils among others, all of them relived laudable encounters with the first civilian governor of the state.