Lagos State Governor, Baabajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday announced that the blue and red rail lines would be ready by 2022 to honour the first civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.
The governor spoke on the first day of a four-day special programme to mark the 40th Fidau for the late Jakande at who served as the first civilian of Lagos State from 1979 to 1983.
Dignitaries in person of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Femi Hamzat and the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Folashade Jaji converged on the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan Stadium, Onikan for his Day of Tributes.
Others are former Military Administrator of the state, now NDLEA Chairman Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) and former Ogun State governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba.
Sanwo-Olu announced that the state would establish the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy to honour and immortalise the first civilian governor of the state. The announcement received thunderous applause. Sanwo-Olu described the deceased as an ‘epitome of what we stand for today’. He said the academy would be supported by an enabling Act of the House of Assembly.
He said: “Today, we celebrate a great man, a selfless leader, a rare gem, a quintessential politician, an administrator par excellence, the first civilian Governor of Lagos State, architect of modern Lagos. A man who lived a full life; a life rich not in material things but in the things that truly matter: integrity, honour, service and character.
“Through his outstanding and unequalled achievements, Alhaji Lateef Jakande has written his name in gold. He will continue to be remembered by generations as a reference point in good governance, welfarism, visionary leadership, selfless leadership, transformational leadership and leadership by example.
“He was never one to throw his greatness and clout around; he stayed simple and humble even at the height of his achievements and until the very end.
“Jakande’s achievements as governor of Lagos State within four years and three months (1979-1983) are well documented for posterity. A careful analysis of the achievements whether in education, health, housing, transportation, environment, road infrastructure or agriculture, would reveal a leader shrewd in the management of resources, visionary, altruistic, selfless, disciplined, passionate and accountable.
“Baba was a transformational leader, who led by example. His commitment and dedication to building the Greater Lagos of our dream, a Lagos that works for all, was unequalled. He served the people with all his heart and never saw his position as a route to personal enrichment. He demystified public office through his simple and Spartan lifestyle.
“He set a standard that successive administrations will continue to strive to live up to and maintain. I can say without any fear of contradiction that Baba died a happy and fulfilled man because he was able to witness the progress that successive administrations, especially civilian governments, made with regards to actualising the Lagos of his dream: a Lagos where all citizens are catered for regardless of social or economic class, ethnic origin or religious outlook.
“The highest honour we can pay him is to continue to strive to live up to his leadership ideals and deliver the full dividends of democracy to the people.”