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Mobolaji Olufunso Johnson, Lagos state first military head of state is dead.
Confirming his death was a family source who said that the late military governor passed on around 4pm on Wednesday.
late Johnson was appointed as the military Administrator by the military Head of State, Major Gen. Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, and was later appointed the governor of Lagos State by his successor, Gen. Yakubu Gowon.
Compulsory retired by former head of state, late Johnson served in the capacity of governor from 1966 to 1975.
However, he and the military governor of Western State were separated from the pack of colleagues who were indicted for corruption.
In retirement, he ventured into business, becoming a director of Julius Berger, the giant construction.
Johnson was born on February 9, 1936. His administration supervised the unpopular demolition of Ajele Cemetery in the early 1970s.
His tenure saw the building of major infrastructure in Lagos State.
Getting his first appointment as the administrator of the Federal Capital Territory of Lagos from Aguyi- Ironsi in 1966, Johnson was involved in developing the civil service.
Johnson was initially assisted in running the state by some key civil servants, including Administrative Secretary, Adeyemi-Bero, Finance Secretary, Folarin Coker, and the acting secretary to the Military Government, Howson Wright and waited until April 1968 before appointing his commissioners.
In 1975, at the inception of the Gen Murtala Mohammed administration Johnson was one of the two governors (along with the Brig Oluwole Rotimi) found not guilty of corruption by the three-man panel set up to investigate the various allegations of corruption amongst the State Governors.
He retired from the Nigerian Army in 1975 and went into private business.
A road, an avenue, and a sports complex in Mobalaji’s home state bear his name as well as a Housing Scheme at Lekki both in Lagos.
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