Journliasm icon and former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, has described Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, a journalism giant and former Governor of Lagos State, who died Thursday at 91, as “a political colossus” and “a personification of the best in journalism”.
Jakande’s death, though at a ripe old age, has thrown the Nigerian media and political community into deep mourning. It came 11 days after another leading light of the media and politics, Prince Tony Momoh, passed on.
Describing Jakande as “an astute politician who left giant footprints wherever he had the opportunity to serve-State and Federal levels,” Aremo Osoba wrote:
“Jakande will be renmembered in history as a personification of the best in journalism and a political colossus.
“He single-handedly founded both the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Institue of Journalism. He was the first black African Chairman of the International Press Institute made up of Publishers and Editors all over the world.
“He was a foundation member of both of the Nigerian Union of Journalists and the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
“An astute politician who left giant footprints wherever he had the opportunity to serve-state and Federal levels.
“As Governor of Lagos State, he ran a daily “Political Clinic” where citizens consulted him on issues.
“In Yoruba parlance-Iroko Tree as well as an elephant has fallen.
“May God grant him eternal rest.”
