Former Governor Of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande Dies At 91

Former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, is dead.

He reportedly died on Thursday at the age of 91.

Jakande, aka Baba Kekere, brought a lot of development to Lagos as governor between October 1, 1979 and December 31, 1983, in line with the five cardinal programmes of the Unity Party of Nigeria founded by a former Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Here are quick facts to know about the late

politician:

1. He was a journalist

2. He first worked with the Daily Service and then in 1953, joined the Nigerian Tribune where he rose to become the Editor-in-Chief.

3. He left Tribune in 1975, and established John West Publications on whose platform he published The Lagos News.

4. He was the first President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN.

5. He became governor of Lagos State from 1979 to 1983 on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN.

6. He was Minister of Works under the Sani Abacha military regime from 1993 to 1998.

7. He is fondly called Baba Kekere

8. Though he was born in Epetedo area of Lagos State on July 23, 1929, his parents hailed from Omu-Aran in present day Kwara State.

9. After the military government headed by Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon took over the government in 1983, Jakande was charged, prosecuted and convicted of treason; but he was later pardoned.

10. He later became member of different political parties at different times. The parties include All Nigeria Peoples Party and Action Party of Nigeria.

Source: Wiki