In a poignant tribute to the legacy of the late former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, his family unequivocally stated that they possess no land on the coveted Banana Island.
The island, which was developed during Jakande’s administration, has often been associated with his name. The assertion was made during the inaugural edition of the Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture, hosted at Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.
Seyi Jakande, the son of the late governor, took the stage on Monday to reflect on the life of his father and dispel misconceptions regarding the allocation of resources during Jakande’s tenure. Seyi emphasized that his father was an exemplar of selflessness, dedicating himself to the development of Lagos without any special favors to his family.
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“People say does he (Jakande) even have a wife? Does he even have children? I had to tell my sister, ‘Won’t we go for DNA?’” Seyi quipped, highlighting the extent of his father’s dedication.
Alhaji Lateef Jakande, a former journalist and the first President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), not only served as the governor of Lagos State from 1979 to 1983 but also held the position of Minister of Works under the Sani Abacha military regime. Seyi Jakande recounted his father’s transformative role during this period.
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He revealed that the concept of developing the now-prestigious Banana Island was conceived during his father’s time as Minister of Works. The idea capitalized on waterways, as the island was reclaimed and sold to the affluent to generate revenue and subsidize housing projects.
Seyi continued, stating that his father did not reserve any part of the newly formed island for his family. “Again, Baba did not even have sand on Banana Island. This was just water. He started Banana Island, created it, and filled it up, and not even (a portion) of sand (was allocated) to his beloved wife or any member of his family,” Seyi explained.
During the memorial lecture, Seyi Jakande also implored the state government to consider renaming Lagos State University at Ojoo after his father, attributing its inception to his visionary parent. He appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to revisit the prospect of this renaming, further solidifying the legacy of Lateef Jakande.
The event was attended by notable figures, including Lateef Jakande’s wife, Sikirat Jakande, and daughter, Dr Adeboye. The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, paid homage to Jakande’s impact on humanity and the many positive testimonies he left behind. The memorial also saw the presence of esteemed individuals like Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (retd.), former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, and other distinguished media industry players, all commemorating the indelible mark left by Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
This statement from Jakande’s son has clarified the notion that Banana Island was conceived and developed by Bola Tinubu.
