Celebrating Jakande at 80

To mark the birthday of the man people of Lagos still regard as Action Governor two decades after his tenure, a book entitled: Jakande: His Story is History, written by a former Permanent Secretary in Lagos State, Chief Tunde Fanimokun, was launched. During the event, various activities which included an interactive session with journalists, visit […]

To mark the birthday of the man people of Lagos still regard as Action Governor two decades after his tenure, a book entitled: Jakande: His Story is History, written by a former Permanent Secretary in Lagos State, Chief Tunde Fanimokun, was launched.

During the event, various activities which included an interactive session with journalists, visit by thousands of beneficiaries of Jakande Low Cost housing programme, various groups and associates, Friday prayer sessions at the Lagos Central Mosque and thanksgiving service scheduled to take place tomorrow were held.

After completing his secondary school education at Ilesha Grammar School in present day Osun State, Jakande was employed as a reporter with the Nigerian Tribune Newspapers founded in 1949 by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.  Four years after, he became the editor of the newspaper.

Due to his closeness to the late Awolowo, the then leader of the opposition in the Federal House of Representatives in Lagos, his column in the Tribune was read with great interest as he always appealed to the sentiment of the South West from where Awolowo drew his political support.

 Those who had the privilege of seeing Jakande working  as a journalist in the 1960s and 70s, particularly when he had risen to senior editorial position in the features department of the rested Daily Service, which had its offices located at Apongbon area of Lagos Island, said he was a workaholic.

For instance, in August 1960, when elections were held in the old Western Region, the Daily Service was fully mobilized by Jakande to support the late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, who was fielded by the Action Group to succeed Awolowo, as the Premier of the region.

His management style of mobilizing all hands to achieve a specific objective was highly demonstrated as four different editions of the newspaper were produced under his supervision, which announced the progress of the elections at different times before the following morning. He was reported to do the front page of the four editions by himself and also worked round the clock to ensure victory was achieved.

Jakande did not only quickly excel in his journalism career at a tender age; he was also saddled with other important responsibilities. It was in the course of his calling as a journalist that he attended series of constitutional conferences, starting with the elaborate one held in London in 1957 which later paved way for Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

Being a serious minded person who worked tirelessly, his worth as a distinguished journalist was recognized both within and outside the country. He became a household name in the country through his weekly column under pen name of John West shortly before and after independence.

He was elected Chairman of the Executive Board of the International Press Institute (IPI) in Zurich, Switzerland.

Quite a number of Nigerian journalists benefitted from this institute. They were awarded fellowships which took them to different countries, in order to share their experiences with their professional colleagues in other countries. About the same time, Jakande was active in the affairs of the Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) in London.

Jakande’s contributions to journalism as a profession and to the newspaper industry cannot be over emphasized. The dignity of journalism and the meticulous observance of the ethics of professional journalism are subjects which are dear to his heart and which he made good use of  them when he became the first civilian governor of Lagos state.

An institution which was Jakande’s enduring contribution to journalism, as well as to newspaper industry, is the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos. Quite distinct from his journalism career, Jakande’s involvement in politics revealed that he was more than a brilliant person. He was elected Governor of Lagos state in 1979, almost 18 years after he had presided over the Executive Board of IPI in Zurich.

As governor of Lagos state between 1979 and 1983, Jakande was able to demonstrate to the whole world that a journalist is as good as any other professionals or even better in a political office. He gave Nigerian journalists a sense of pride as he brought a well-thought-out plan for Lagos state which transformed the face of the city.

So far, Jakande’s administration in Lagos State still stands out as one that wholly served the interest of the common people. His achievements in education sector, housing, health, transport, road construction and others are worthy of emulation by present crop of governors in the country.

For example, in 1980, Jakande broke the monopoly of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) by being the first governor that established a state-owned television station.  Today, the Lagos Television Station has continued to wax strongly.

The former governor is a leader who lives by example. He abhors wasteful expenditure in government. Unlike today’s government functionaries, who lived in Government Houses that are lavishly furnished, he lived in his private residence at Ilupeju, Lagos, where he still lives today. The building itself does not look like one owned by a former governor from either outside or from within.

In the history of Lagos state, Jakande was the only executive governor who did not see the need to travel overseas in search of foreign investors. It was on record that throughout his four-year- tenure as Lagos state governor, he never travelled for a day outside the country. Yet, foreign investors did come to Nigeria and invest in Lagos economy.

Commenting on qualities of Jakande, Professor Lai Olorode, an associate of the former governor, described him as an agent of God who concerned himself more about the common people than himself.

What make matters worse for Nigeria, in Yaya Dosunmu’s opinion, is that genuine leaders with ability and commitment to progress, like Jakande, are either  being frustrated  at the primaries of their parties or get killed by a fierce competitor to ensure they get their desired political positions at all cost.

The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola described Jakande as a pacesetter in the development of education, housing and health care programme in the state. He commended the former governor for taking decisive steps while he was in office, noting that he was inspired by his leadership style when he assumed office in 2007.

To celebrate Jakande at 80 is to celebrate journalism and contribution of a foremost journalist to constitutional and democratic governance in the country.