Mobolaji Johnson, the first military governor of Lagos State, died on Wednesday at the age of 83.
A top official government source confirmed the development, saying the deceased passed away at around 4pm.
Born to the family of Joshua and Gbemisola Johnson on February 9, 1936, Johnson started his education at Reagan Memorial Baptist School, Yaba, in 1941. He then attended Hussey College, Warri in 1954.
He also attended Methodist Boys High School Lagos, which his father also attended, and finished his secondary school education in 1957.
Johnson enrolled in the Nigerian Army in 1959 and attended the Officer Cadet Training School in Ghana. He also attended the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, United Kingdom, between 1960-1961.
Johnson was appointed the military administrator of the then federal territory of Lagos by General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi the nation’s first military head of state in 1967.
He served as governor of Lagos State from May 1967 to July 1975.
His tenure was credited for carrying out major construction work and laying the plan for the state.
The war veteran was also instrumental in developing the civil service in Lagos state.
He was compulsorily retired in 1975 by the late Murtala Mohammed during the latter’s tenure as head of state.
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