- Says he was a giant in the progressive fold
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday expressed sadness over the passage of the former Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Rafiu Jafojo.
Jafojo, who was Deputy Governor during the administration of former governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, during the Second Republic, died on Saturday in his Lagos residence at the age of 80.
The governor in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said Jafojo’s death was a great loss to the state, adding that his contribution to the development of state will not be forgotten in a hurry.
“Alhaji Jafojo was part and parcel of an administration during the Second Republic that has been widely applauded across Nigeria for achieving several milestones which is still being made reference to. “He was an astute politician who was very loyal to the course of developing the state and together with Alhaji Lateef Jakande, they formed a strong partnership and set the template for the development of Lagos State.
“That he was a progressive minded politician was never in doubt. Little wonder he joined the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), which was founded by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, on which platform Baba Jakande and himself emerged as governor and deputy governor of Lagos State in October 1979.
“He walked closely with Awolowo and learnt the ropes and the ideology of putting the people first. In his latter days, he was a strong pillar of the progressives and a grassroots mobiliser,” Ambode said.
The governor said that Jafojo, despite his age continued to contribute his quota to the development of the state and always made himself available for any course that was geared towards moving the state forward.
Ambode while commiserating with the family of the late politician, said the state government under his administration will continue to ensure that the ideals he propagated while he was alive will continue to be upheld and improved upon.
“On behalf of the government and good people of Lagos State, I want to express our heartfelt condolence to the family of Alhaji Jafojo on this great and irreparable loss. He surely paid his dues and Lagosians will always remember him,” the governor said.
