[PAPIG]

There is no denying the fact that Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande (LKJ) was a unique breed as the governor of Lagos state and i doubt if this feat can be equalled and forget about its being surpassed. He was destined for a higher calling including the presidency.

Unfortunately this was truncated in my humble opinion by his association with the tarnished junta of the the evil and kleptomaniac duo - Babangida/Abacha regime. Yes, it is possible to come out untarnished even with this twosome. For instance, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti left that regime intact with no new kobo to his bank account. That may be on account of his apolitical stand and his family pedigree which included honesty and service to the people. Some how, in the case of LKJ, this association has done incalculable damage to his reputation and i fear he may not be able to wash away this dirt.

The take away message is that one cannot dine with armed robbers and be expected to be still regarded as clean even when you are truly innocent. The other analogy is like riding unto power on the back of a Lamidi Adedibu and be expected to be trusted with the state resources. The same could be said of Umaru Yar'Adua. Having riden to power on the back of one Aremu of Otta and be regarded as incorruptible in the mould of Mallam Aminu Kano or a Balarabe Musa, inspite of his antecedent as a connoisseur of PRP values. You ask one Alhaji Abubakar Rimi.

Back to LKJ. He remains one of my heroes on account of his feat as the one and only action governor of Lagos State but i remain unsure if i can trust him again purely on account of his lapse by association. How come people like Balarabe Musa could withstand this temptation but he could not? I trully would want him to remain a hero.