Lateef Kayode Jakande, a former governor of Lagos state is dead.

He reportedly died on Thursday at the age of 91.

Lateef Jakande, popularly known as Baba Kekere, was the governor between October 1, 1979 and December 31, 1983. 

He was a former journalist who became governor of Lagos State and later Minister of Works under the Sani Abacha military regime between 1993 and 1998.

He was well respected and widely regarded as the best governor in the history of the state. He introduced housing and educational programmea targeted at the poor. 

He built new neighbourhood primary and secondary schools and provided free primary and secondary education. He established the Lagos State University. 

Jakande’s government constructed over 30,000 housing units. He started a metroline project to facilitate mass transit, which was halted by Muhammadu Buhari when the military seized power through a coup on 31 December, 1983.

His administration as governor is still revered for the massive infrastructural development recorded during his four-year stint, especially the numerous Jakande Estates built across many local government areas in the state as well as sterling investment in schools.

How Jakande died – son, Deji reveals

Deji Jakande, son of the first Civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, has recounted his father’s last moments before he died.

Deji thanked God for the life his father lived, saying he was not sick before he died.

According to him, his father took his pap and crayfish and was still reading his newspapers without glasses.

“We had stopped visitors from going to him because of Covid-19 because he likes shaking people.

Today, he was about to take his breakfast. Suddenly, he couldn’t breathe again. We called the doctor to come and examine him. That was between 10.30 am and 11.am,” he told the Nation.

He said many people have been calling, which included the Governor, the deputy governor, the party chairman and others.

“He will be buried tomorrow after Jumat Service before 4pm at the Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi,” he said.

Jakande expanded educational facilities, built more schools and capped them all by establishing the Lagos State University, LASU.

He built hospitals in all local governments in the state.

He also expanded a yet to be matched record in building affordable housing for the people.

Akande built estates in Ijaiye, Dolphin, Oke-Afa, Ije, Abesan, Iponri, Ipaja, Abule Nla, Epe, Anikantamo, Surulere, Iba, Ikorodu, Badagry and offered 30 year mortgage for apartments sold for between N6,000 and N8,000.