By Clifford Ndujihe

First civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, CON, who turned 81  penultimate Friday, bares his mind on the nation’s achievements in the last 50 years, how to ensure credible polls in 2011 and why he is backing Governor Babatunde Fashola for a second term among others. Excerpts:

How do you see the Commander of the Order of Niger, CON, award given to you last penultimate Thursday?
It was a national honour. I value it very much. I see it as a recognition of my humble service to the nation, an encouragement to continue to serve the nation and to do my best at all times. So, I thank the president and, above all, I thank God for the honour.

You received a national honour on Thursday and on Friday you became 81 years old, a double blessing of sorts…
It is great that God, in His mercy, has made all these possible. What else can one ask for? As they say, it is the doing of God and it is marvellous in my sight.

At 81, you look very strong. You climb stairs without any aid. What is the secret?
The main secret is God’s blessing. God has given me the strength. I am eternally grateful to him.

Looking back, what are your regrets in life?
I don’t have any regrets at all. God in His mercy has guided me. I have always had peace in whatever I did. I never depart from what I regard as divine vision.

Any regret serving the military regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha?
No, I don’t at all. It was another opportunity for me to render service. Abacha was a nationalist. Some of the things he did and one of the attributes he had was consultation. He generally consulted his lieutenants. He wasn’t a dictator by nature. For example, I cannot remember him turning down any of the proposals I made to him. And this enabled us to embark on the National Housing Programme across the country. And the foundation we laid has been improved upon by successive governments.

In Lagos, the housing programmes we launched have been developed by successive governments and the people, who live there recognise the importance of the estates to their lives. I laid the foundation for the houses throughout the country. I do know that there is no where in the country where I started the programme that it was not followed up one way or the other.

Talking about Lagos, there have been some demolitions in recent time. What do these portend for the state and the nation’s housing needs? 

Some explanations have been given. For the houses along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, the government had announced that the road was to be expanded into 10 lanes from about two to three lanes. But I understand that the governor may be having a re-think and reducing it to three or four lanes. There is no doubt, in many of these areas the governor had intervened, there were many illegalities – people developed houses without due permission. I don’t like demolition, I will rather wish that the governor gives due notice to those affected and make arrangement to provide alternative places for them. Though they have contravened the law, there should be an administrative programme for them to correct themselves. We should try and provide alternative places even if they have to pay for them. I hope that they will do that because the demolition was too painful. The demolition was done without an alternative. I think the governor is looking into it.

Following the demolitions, some victims are now invading the lagoons with the attendant implications for environmental safety and well-being of the citizenry.

It is not desirable. I hope the appropriate ministries will take immediate steps to control these movements. The earlier it is done the better. We should not wait until the harm has been done before we seek solution.

What is your assessment of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s performance so far?
Let me say right away that he is doing well. I am impressed with his dynamism. He is committed to serving the state. He has done well. He has a hardworking team. Taking a cue from the previous regime, it is easier for him to know what to do, when to do it and how to do it.

Everyone agrees that there had been a serious case of environmental neglect in Lagos State. And it is not entirely blamable on the government. Many of us are citizens of Lagos State. So, I welcome his environmental development. I want to see him carrying the people along with him, let them appreciate that it is in their interest to correct any errors or mistakes in the state for the well-being of the state.

Do you support a second term for Fashola?
He deserves it.

Would you campaign for him?
Fashola deserves a second term. I don’t think I should be going round campaigning at this age but I can tell you right away that I support him. Whatever party he belongs to, I want to see him make a second term.

In October, it will be 50 years of Nigeria’s independence. How do you think we have fared as a nation?
Quite frankly, we have not fared badly but we could have done better as a nation. This is a nation that was joined by the British. Before the British, we were different nations but the British brought us together. In every part of the world, such countries broke down in the absence of the colonial master. India and Pakistan were one country – Old India . They are no longer so.

That we have maintained the reality of Nigeria is a credit to us and to our leaders. The structure has many areas which could have broken Nigeria up at anytime but we have succeeded in curtailing such tendencies. Our population is 140 million, there are at least 200 groups and sub-groups – linguistic and cultural. It is a matter for joy that in spite of these differences, Nigeria has remained one country.

The Biafran civil war is just one example of the benefits of Nigeria because in spite of the tragic incident, we have remained one and living together without bitterness. In other countries, the Igbo people would have rallied round the leaders of Biafra. Also, in other countries, bitterness would have existed between the civil war proponents and the rest of the country. We don’t have that. I remember Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s beautiful speech: “No Victor, No Vanquished.” Gowon will go down in history as a great leader because in any case, a lot of things depend on who leads at such a time. We must thank God for giving us this great country. We also thank our leaders, they have been great leaders. We pray to God for the patience to remain together.

How do you see the controversy trailing the issue of zoning of the presidency?
Zoning is the business of the political party concerned. If they keep to zoning and win election, good luck to them. If they don’t keep to zoning and win, good luck to them. What I want to see at all times is fairness among our people and not allowing anyone to suffer because of the place he comes from.

What is your reaction to Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s presidential aspiration?
He is a Nigerian citizen. He can aspire to be president. It is up to the voters and the people to decide what happens.
What about President Goodluck Jonathan?
Jonathan should be judged by his performance. I will advise him to concentrate on that. He has a programme, let him pursue it and let the public see his presence. He has an opportunity to work and establish himself as our President. He should seize that opportunity with all his might and focus on it. He should go ahead with the job at hand and let Nigerians see that he has rendered service to the country.

If Jonathan contests, don’t you think it might affect the credibility of the polls given past experiences?
My advice is that he should do it free and fair. He should not have the issue of rigging the election. How can you rig election and then want to govern the people? Jonathan has the opportunity now. The elections are slated for next year. Between now and that time, let him show us, the Nigerian nation, the type of president he will make.

Going by the amendments to the 1999 Constitution, the elections will be held in January 2011. Do you think the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, can compile fresh voters’ list and conduct credible polls within five months?
I think that January is too early, especially with the new INEC. I think they need one full year to settle down and plan for the election.

Does that mean you support tenure elongation?
The constitution provides for that if the situation demands. It is possible for the National Assembly to count it among the amendments they are making. The welfare of the people is supreme. The law is meant for man. I think that for a good reason, the National Assembly should extend the tenure of existing institutions for 12 months.

How do you see the agitation for the creation of about 30 new states in the country?
The number is too much. I think we should take each case on its merit.