Mobolaji Johnson
Mobolaji Olufunso Johnson was a Nigerian Army Brigadier who served as Military Administrator of the Federal territory of Lagos from January 1966 to May 1967 during the military regime of General Aguyi-Ironsi, and then as the pioneer and first Governor of Lagos State from May 1967 to July 1975 during the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon. As Governor of Lagos, his administration supervised the unpopular demolition of the Ajele Cemetery in the early 1970s.
Early life and education
Johnson was born to the family of Joshua Motola Johnson and his wife, Gbemisola Johnson . His father was of Eko Division of Lagos origin and was a member of the Royal West African Frontier Force during World War II. Johnson had five other siblings including his brother, Femi Johnson, founder of Femi Johnson and Company of Ibadan.Mobolaji Johnson started his education at Reagan Memorial Baptist School, Yaba, Methodist School in 1941. He then attended Hussey College, Warri, 1954. In 1955, he moved to Methodist [Boys' High School, Lagos], the school his father attended, where he finished his secondary education in 1957. While in MBHS, Lagos, Johnson was recognised as a good all-round sports man becoming the school's athletics captain.
In March 1958 Johnson enlisted in the Nigerian Army. He was sent to Zaria Military Depot in the north of Nigeria for his initial training. In 1959 he attended the Officer Cadet Training School in Ghana. Johnson also attended the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot from October to December 1959 and the Royal [Military Academy, Sandhurst], United Kingdom, between January 1960 and December 1961.
Military career
- Zaria Military Depot, 1958–1959.
- United Nations Peace Keeping Troops, Congo
- He was promoted a 2nd Lieutenant, Nigeria Army, 1961.
- Lieutenant, 1962, Captain, October 1962.
- Appointed Deputy Commander, Federal Guards, 1964.
- Commander, Federal Guards, 1964.
- Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster-General Headquarters, 2nd Brigade, Apapa, Lagos, 1964.
- Major, February 1966;
- Second in command, 4th Battalion, Ibadan.
- Station Commander, Benin, Midwest.
Biafra War
In 1966, after the abortive coup d'etat that put paid to the first Nigerian civilian administration, he became Military Administrator of Lagos State. In 1967 he became the First Governor of Lagos State. Johnson's tenure as Military Governor of Lagos State saw the building of major infrastructure in Lagos State.
Governor
Johnson was first appointed by Aguiyi-Ironsi as the administrator of the former federal territory of Lagos in 1966. Ironsi was the head of state and wanted someone from Lagos to handle some of the problems of the federal territory. In May 1967, Lagos State was created and Johnson became the first governor of Lagos; the state was now composed of the old Federal Territory of Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lagos Island plus the additions of the Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu and Ikeja divisions. He was involved in developing the civil service in Lagos State. Johnson was initially assisted in running the state with help from some key civil servants such as Administrative Secretary, Adeymi-Bero, Legal Secretary, Alh. I. O Agoro, Finance Secretary, F.C.O Coker, and the acting secretary to the Military Government, Howson Wright and waited until April 1968 before appointing his commissioners.Building Lagos
- 60.7-kilometre international express road linking Nigeria with the neighbouring countries Benin, Ghana and Togo.
- Toikin Bridge to link Epe to Ikorodu
- Eko Bridge
- Third Mainland Bridge
- A network of roads and bridges that constitutes what is modern day Lagos
- Reclamation of the Bar Beach shoreline.
Demolition of Ajele Cemetery
Johnson's administration was responsible for the demolition and disinterment of people buried at Ajele Cemetery such as Samuel Ajayi Crowther, James Pinson Labulo Davies, Madam Tinubu, Thomas Babington Macaulay, and many others. The demolition met with a lot of criticism: Prof J.D.Y. Peel noted that the demolition had deprived "Lagosians not only of a precious green space in the heart of the city but of the memorials of their forebears". Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka called the demolition "the violation of that ancestral place" noting that "the order came from the military governor : 'Dig up those dead and forgotten ancestors and plant a modern council building – with all its lucrative corollaries on that somnolent spot".Retirement
In 1975 at the inception of the General Murtala Mohammed administration Johnson was one of the two state Governors found not guilty of corruption by the three-man panel commissioned to investigate the various allegations of corruption amongst the State Governors.General Johnson retired from the Nigerian Army in 1975 and went into private business.
He had four children, three sons and a daughter.
Later life
Johnson was the Chairman of Nigerian Conservation Foundation.He became a Director of construction giant Julius Berger Nigeria in 1979 and its chairman in 1996, a post he held until 2009.
Johnson was the Chairman Executive Council of Lagos State University Development Foundation.
He was the chairman of the Board of Trustees of Methodist Boys' High School, Lagos Old Boys' National Association. He was honoured with the position because he was a distinguished Old Boy who was of great assistance to his alma mater.
His daughter-in-law is Omobola Johnson.
Mobolaji Johnson died on October 30, 2019, at the age of 83 in his home. His death was announced by his son, Deji Johnson. Deji has 3 children himself, two daughters and a son.
Seyi Johnson who is currently Business Development Director at Julius Berger also one of his 3 sons.
Legacy
A road, an avenue, and a sports complex in Mobolaji's home state bear his name as well as a Housing Scheme at Lekki both in Lagos. A railway station in Ebute Metta, Lagos was named in his honour.He was one of the four Yoruba Lagosians to be honored by an EYO FESTIVAL organised the 27th dec. 2025 for his involvement in Lagos Developtmnt as the first military governor. He is the fourth celebrated personality and was a thrue Lagosian but of Saro origin coming from the Saro part of Lagos near Marina. He was the son of Joshua Motola Johnson and his wife, Gbemisola Johnson. It is a new opportunity after 8 years without Eyo Festival, after past honored leaders were only from Eko-Lagos, for the ACN governor to bring all Lagosians together in the building of a Lagostatism identity, broader than an eko-yoruba indigene identity and politically relevant for the whole Lagos Sate from Badagry to Epe including Ikorurdu. It has to be a new yoruba pan-Lagosian identity build from all political background other than AG/ACN and with non-eko indigene celebrtated. This started with the Eyo for the saros NCNC TOS Benson and now with the former first governor of Lagos State, Mobolaji Olufunsho Johnson. Only Mrs Tinubu, Chief Abibatu Mogaji, was from an Eko family from the very inner center of Lagos Island. When Chief Michael Agbolade Otedola was from a migrant family from Kwara State. The new Lagos State image targetted by the ACN has to be as inclusive as possible ; this reenforcement of a mobilizing pan-lagosian identity aims probably at avoiding a vote in favour of a non Yoruba politician such as the one in favor of Peter Obi during last presidential election when B. Tinubu was elected but in minority during the first round in his home state.