Fashola’s former aide, Lateef Raji, dies at 54

Lateef Raji

Abdullateef Raji, a former Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to immediate past Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has died at the age of 54.

He was a commissioner with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) until his death which occurred at his Magodo home in Lagos.

Born on October 12, 1962, Raji attended Ire Akari Grammar School, Idoani in Ondo State between 1974 and 1978.

He later went to New Church High School, Owo, Ondo State and obtained his Ordinary Level School Certificate in 1980.

Thereafter, he proceeded to the University of Lagos to study history.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in 1997 and also earned a Master’s Degree in History in 2000.

Raji started his career as an editor with Ahrada West African Publishing Ltd between 1996 and year 2000 and was later elevated to the post of the editor-in-chief of the company in which capacity he worked between 2000 and 2003.

Raji ventured into politics in 1999, becoming the Alliance for Democracy secretary in Lagos.

He later became the chairman of a faction of the party when the party became factionalised.

He is also credited for designing the All Progressives Congress (APC) logo as his hand is the one holding the broom in the symbol of the party right from when it was Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

He contested for the House of Representatives Oshodi/Isolo federal Constituency in 2011 under the platform of APC but didn’t get the party ticket.

He served as special adviser to Fashola between 2011 and 2015.

On June 29, 2016, he was appointed a member of LASIEC by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.