Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has stated that with the demise of the former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Rafiu Bakare Adeyefa Jafojo, Lagos State and Nigeria, have lost a great patriot whose penchant for equity and justice was well known.
Obasa, reacting to the death of the former Deputy Governor in the administration of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, through a statement by his (Obasa’s) Chief Press Secretary, 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.
“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.
“Papa died when his wealth of experience, wisdom and elderly advice are most needed at this crucial period the country is navigating towards a progressive change from previous mal-administration that has crippled the nation in the last 16 years.
“But who are we to query Almighty Allah? It is His wish that Papa should leave at this time, thus we are mere mortals who cannot query His decision,” Obasa said.
The Lagos Assembly Speaker therefore condoled with the Lagos State Government on the loss of an elder statesman and founding father; the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the death of a great and loyal party man; and the Jafojo family on demise of their patriarch.
“I pray that Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest and give the state, the party and the family in particular the fortitude to bear the huge loss. His was a life well spent as he contributed his all to the development and growth of the society he found himself, we should and will take solace in that,” Obasa said.
