By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsuru Olowoopejo

ON Saturday, April 23, news filtered in that former deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Rafiu Bakare Adeyefa Jafojo had passed on.

Though, Jafojo had withdrawn from the public eye owing to his old age, his death came as a rude shock to many political bigwigs cutting across the political divide.
Jafojo, who was the first deputy Governor during Alhaji Lateef Jakande’s administration in the Second Republic, between October 1st, 1979 and 31st December, 1983, died late Saturday evening in his Lagos residence, No 2 C Orishe Street, Ikeja, Lagos State, at the age of 80 after a brief illness.

He was subsequently laid to rest at his residence the following day, April 24th, 2016, according to Muslim rites.

Interestingly, Jafojo was a close ally of late Pa Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

At the burial
Eminent Nigerians, who graced the burial of the late Jafojo include Governor Akinwumi Ambode represented by his Deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule; former governor of Lagos, Alhaji Jakande; whom Jafojo served as deputy; Deputy Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Mr. Wasiu Esilokun-Sanni; Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu who was represented by his white cap chiefs, Chairman of APC Lagos, Chief Henry Ajomale.
Others include: Senator Bode Olajumoke, former Speaker Lagos House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr. Abdullateef Abdul-Hakeem and his counterpart from Environment, Dr. Babatunde Ajomale and others.

How Jafojo died-son
It was gathered that he had been ill for over two weeks and spoke faintly. “But he never lost his senses,” the source said.
According to him, “he (Jafojo) waited for all his children to arrive (home), especially those in United States of America, USA before he passed on. We will miss him because he is a perfect father. He mentored us and built confidence in us. He believes in empowering people. We will miss him for his contribution. It will be hard to fill the vacuum he left.”

He was my friend, mentor- Another son
Also, Adeniyi Jafojo described the philosophy of his father as second to none, saying “he was more than a father but also a friend and a confidant.”
“His counsel and philosophy were second to none and he imparted that into us. It is not about his wealth and personality. He believes in his people and that was why he refused to relocate from Ikeja. That afforded him the opportunity often to have an impact on several people,” Adeniyi added.
Continuing, he said his late father “came, saw and tried his best for the people. He helped several people. Infact, larger percentage of those I see today, I don’t know them. But they have all visited us because of what my father had done when he was alive.”

Ambode remembers Jafojo
Paying glowing tributes to the late Jafojo, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode described the passage of Jafojo as a great loss to the state, adding that his contribution to the development of state would not be forgotten in a hurry.

Ambode, in a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, stated that “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.

The statement reads: “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 rode to emerge as Governor and Deputy Governor of Lagos State in October 1979.

“He walked closely with Chief Awolowo and learnt the ropes and the ideology of putting the people first. In his latter days, it was not surprising that he joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which has metamorphosed to become the All Progressives Congress (APC) because he saw a semblance of what the UPN and Awolowo stood for.”

He laid solid foundation for Lagos- Obasa

Similarly, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said Lagos State and indeed Nigeria, has lost a great patriot whose penchant for equity and justice was well known.

Obasa, reacting to the death through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Musbau Rasak, described the deceased as one of the founding fathers of modern Lagos whose efforts in the Second Republic laid the solid foundation from which the Centre of Excellence has evolved and developed over the years.

According to him, “Papa was a very patriotic Nigerian who was well known for his progressive pro-democratic ideals and promoter of equity and justice. Together with Alhaji Lateef Jakande and other members of the 1979-1983 Class, they laid a solid foundation for the development and growth of the state. This is the foundation from which subsequent administrations built upon to make the state live up to its sobriquet of Centre of Excellence.”

His death will affect us—Ajomale, Lagos APC chairman
Speaking on the effect the demise of Jafojo will have on the political activities in Lagos, Ajomale, lamented that his death would affect the party in the state, saying, “He was one of the best politicians around in terms of tactics, mobilisation and others.”

The chairman noted that the philosophy he and Jakande introduced in Lagos had since been adopted by their predecessors.

According to him, “His death will affect us in so many ways unless we get grips of his followers.
“Unarguably in Ikeja Division, he (Jafojo) has many supporters. He is one of the head of Aworis in Lagos. And he played his role as a deputy governor, party and community leader in the state.

“Though before his death, he had made every arrangement. The arrangement was that he told them that irrespective of whatever happens, they must not waiver from supporting APC. And for that, we are grateful to God for what he had done before his demise.

“He and Baba Jakande opened the way for the government of Lagos to have positive impact on the people that was why all other governors that have come after them followed their legacies.”