It was a day of tributes for media legend, late Alhaji Lateef Jakande at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) memorial lecture as journalists, editors and media professionals across generations and from all over the country turned up for the event, which would subsequently be held annually on his birthday.
Fondly called LKJ or Baba Kekere, media professionals relieved memories shared with Jakande; his greatness as an accomplished journalist and unmatchable success as the first civilian governor of Lagos State.
With the theme, ‘Lateef Jakande: The Man, His Journalism, His Politics,’ the professionals described Jakande as a great journalist, and an enigmatic and altruist politician.
In his speech, NGE president and Editor, Vanguard Newspaper, Eze Anaba said Jakande devoted his entire professional and political career to advancing values of liberty and social justice.
He said Jakande exemplified the values of honesty, integrity, and fairness, told the stories of the powerless and held the powerful to account.
To him, Jakande’s footprints are everywhere, adding that many people who knew him closely will gladly testify that Baba Kekere was an incredible talent, whether as a journalist or a politician.
He observed: “He demonstrated commitment to our journalistic freedom and long-term survival. He started the NGE in 1961 and founded the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ). He also founded the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). The legendary Baba Kekere brought the International Press Institute (IPI) to Nigeria.”
Speaking further, Anaba noted that the inaugural lecture was to honour the great man and recognise his outstanding achievements.
“At the Guild, we think it is important to institionalise the culture of appreciation, which gives us the institutional memory to know how we got to where we are and how to build on the legacy and accomplishments of the past.”
Speaking on challenges, he added, “The cost of production has hit the roof, sales falling daily because of a depressed economy. As media managers, we have to think of innovative and sustainable solutions.
“The challenges that led to the forming of the Guild are still prevalent till today. Also, the circumstances we report and obtain news have changed dramatically. It is therefore our duty to reposition and revitalise the media, just as Baba Kekere and his colleagues did to meet the challenges of their time. We should address the impact of new technologies. As journalists and media practitioners, we have to work harder and do more to adjust and adapt to survive.”
In conclusion, he stressed the need for the media to enhance their financial and editorial independence as the fourth estate of the realm, “if we are to effectively discharge our constitutional duties under Section 22 of the 1999 constitution as amended.”
The Chairman of the event and former Foreign Minister and Military Governor of the old Imo State, Major General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), who was a reporter in the 60s and worked with Jakande as the editor of the Daily Service Newspaper, advised on the need to follow the path of LKJ, who left a light “on our feet. His footprints are everywhere.”
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat. Hamzat’s father, Alhaji Mufutau Olatunji Hamzat, was the Commissioner for Transportation in the administration of Jakande.
To immortalise Jakande, according to Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State government established the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy.
Speaking further, Sanwo-Olu said that the academy “will provide an avenue for the younger generation to imbibe the ideals and essence of responsive, responsible and selfless leadership which were the hallmarks of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande both in his private and public life.”
On his part, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by a media consultant, Kayode Akinmade said Jakande’s concept of governance should “serve as a manual for policy makers in Africa in the quest for urbanisation and human capital development.”
Jakande’s exemplary vision in the formation of the NGE, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) were richly extolled by the speakers.
The story was also told of Jakande, as the first African to head the Executive Board of the International Press Institute (IPI) based in Vienna, Austria. The message of the Executive IPI, Frana Maroevic, was delivered by Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin, a member of the Executive Board.
The guest speaker, Chief Felix Adenaike, described Jakande as a “pioneer of plans.” Adenaike was represented by veteran journalist, Prince Bayo Osiyemi, who was the chief press secretary to Jakande from October 1, 1979 to December 31, 1983, when the military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari ended the Second Republic.
The guest speaker spoke of the great progress made by Lagos State during the Jakande administration.
Within those months, policies that impacted the people were conceived and implemented, especially in vital sectors such as education, housing, healthcare, water schemes, basic infrastructure. The education landscape was remarkably transformed from the primary to the tertiary level. The Jakande administration established the Lagos State University (LASU).
According to Adenaike, more schools were established by the Jakande government. As a result, Lagos state was able to end the inequity of the “shift system” in which children attended schools in shifts because there were not enough classrooms.
The phenomenal impact of the Jakande education policy in broadening access to basic education can never be over stated. The policy was criticised by some persons and organisations from purely elitist vantage.
Adenaike also spoke on the metro line project that could have been long completed if the 1983 coup had not occurred. According to him, not only did the military regime end some of the developmental gains of the Jakande years, “Buhari also abolished the rail project contract between the Lagos State Government and the French contractors.”
On his part, Jakande’s son, Seyi Jakande, who spoke at the forum, said his father transferred his children from a private school to one of the public schools. He stressed that some of those who attended the Jakande schools, which some critics called “poultry sheds” later became doctors, lawyers, editors, engineers, professors, civil servants, businessmen and the like.
Jakande was Abacha’s Minister of Works & Housing. Although his political stature was never diminished, Jakande got alienated from the progressive wing of politics, especially in his base in the southwest.
At the height of the struggle for the re-validation of the June 12, 1993 election won by Bashorun Moshood Abiola, which was annulled by former President Ibrahim Babangida, a resolution was passed at a summit of some Yoruba leaders in Ibadan that all Yoruba political figures in Abacha’s government should resign their appointments.
Jakande, Chief Ebenezer Babatope (Transport Miinister), Dr. Olu Onagoruwa (Attorney-General) and others ignored the resolution, invoking their own points of principle. The resolution was part of the pressures mounted on the vicious military regime. Jakande was instead focused on executing the housing projects of the military government.
One of the most popular, among the projects, was the development of the Banana Island in Lagos Island, which is now the residence of the elites and influential.
The criticism that greeted Jakande’s political adventure into Abacha’s government from some progressive elements still lingers.
As Seyi Jakande said, the truth is that, it was actually Abiola himself who persuaded Jakande to be in the cabinet of Abacha.
Former Managing Director of Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Lade Bonuola said he learnt under Jakande on how to deepen his knowledge about journalism.
Veteran journalist, Chief Dayo Duyile, who bagged his PhD at 82 from the University of Lagos, recalled how Nwachukwu “defected” from journalism to the Nigerian Army, while they were both covering the courts in the early 60s.
Duyile was a Daily Times reporter while Nwachukwu reported for Daily Service. And the banter was stretched further by the man who brings dignity to the profession by introducing himself amidst other professionals as “a reporter for life.”
Former governor of Ogun state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba said Nwachukwu ought to face newsroom “court-martial for the defection” as alleged by Duyile.
While making his remarks as chairman, Nwachukwu at a point spoke in flawless Yoruba as he paid warm compliments to Jakande’s widow, Alhaja Sikirat Abimbola Jakande, which elicited the audience applause.
Osoba later said it was no “big deal” that Nwachukwu spoke fluent Yoruba because he was after all a “Yaba boy, who grew up in Yaba and got married in Yaba,” Lagos. He added that Nwachukwu speaks Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba.
The portrait of Jakande, “the man,” was unveiled by the son, Seyi. He spoke about the selflessness and frugality of the father, as well as sense of public purpose.
Specifically, he recalled that Jakande was in the saddle as Minister of Works when Banana Island was being developed, and no member of his family got a plot from the area.
The son also paid tribute to his mother for keeping the home front while the father was busy with the pursuit of his career.
The participants also celebrated his unwavering ability to craft punchy and informed editorials.
Other notable dignitaries include Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers and doyen of the profession, 88-year-old Sam Amuka-Pemu; Managing Director, Guardian Newspaper Limited, Martins Oloja; Commissioner for Information, Lagos state, Gbenga Omotosho; a former NGE President and spokesman to President Buhari Malam Shehu Garba; a former political editor of The Guardian and lawyer, Mrs. Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo; a former President of the Guild and for years, Editor–in–Chief of Vanguard, who is now Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Gbenga Adefaye, and Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun, Onuoha Ike. Others include Jewel Dafinone of TheNewsGuru, and editor of The Niche online newspaper, Alex Duru.
Born on July 23, 1929 in Epetedo area of Lagos Island, Jakande, for four decades, was in Journalism practice. He was Editor, Managing Editor, Editor-in-Chief, founder, and first Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) and the first African President of the International Press Institute (IPI). He was Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Nigerian Tribune.
He was Chairman/Chief Executive of John West Publications. He wrote under the pen name, John West.
Encouraged by the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, he ran for election as executive Governor of Lagos State in 1979 and emerged the first civilian governor of the State. He died on February 11, 2021.
The Guardian
