The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West zone says President Muhammadu Buhari should stop shedding crocodile tears over the demise of former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
Jakande, who is the civilian first governor of Lagos, died aged 91 on Thursday and was buried according to Islamic rites today.
Reacting to the elder statesman’s death in a statement by his media aide, Femi Adesina, President Buhari said the late Jakande “lived for the good of others, state and country, and his legacy of standing for all that was right for humanity would be long remembered”.
“The President, while condoling with family, friends and associates of the elder statesman, affirms that his imprint on the commercial nerve centre of the country, Lagos State, which was the former National capital, will continue to awe and inspire, reminding everyone of the strength of character and sacrifices of the visionary leader,” the statement further read.
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However, the South-West PDP said the presidential statement amounted to shedding crocodile tears.
The party in a statement by its Zonal Director Media and Publicity, Lere Olayinka, PDP urged Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stay away and “allow Lagosians to mourn their hero in peace and stop their crocodile tears over his death”.
“We in the South-West PDP mourn the passing unto glory of a real servant of the people, whose footprints will remain on the sands of Lagos State forever.
“His death, though painful, is a fulfilment of the will of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) and we are confident that for his deeds while alive, he will be granted Aljannah firdaus.
“However, it is our admonition to President Buhari and his APC not to shed crocodile tears over the death of Jakande.
“It is on record that Buhari cancelled the Lagos Metroline network initiated by Jakande then and went ahead to pay compensation to the French company that handled it, costing Lagosians over $78 million.
“If not because of Buhari’s 1984 act of wickedness, transportation problems in Lagos would have been solved permanently. The metro line project would have made life easier and changed the face of transportation in Lagos.
“Same Buhari and his APC people are now on the rooftops, eulogising Jakande after his death. To us in the South-West PDP, this is hypocrisy at its ridiculous peak and it is unacceptable.
“It is our prayer that God will grant the family he left behind, the government and people of Lagos State the strength to bear the loss,” the party stated.