TheCable

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has renamed Onikan stadium after Mobolaji Olufunso Johnson, a retired Nigerian army brigadier-general and the first governor of the state.

The governor announced this in honour of the late governor at the stadium, on Tuesday.

In a video shared by Jubril Gawat, the governor’s new media aide, Sanwo-Olu said Johnson deserves all the awards.

“It used to be called Onikan stadium. But going forward, it will be called Mobolaji Olufunso Johnson stadium. I think he deserves all the awards. We are now at the Mobolaji Olufunso Johnson stadium arena,” he said.

https://twitter.com/Mr_JAGs/status/1201820717291122688

Johnson, who served as governor of Lagos between May 1967 and July 1975 during the regime of Yakubu Gowon, died in October at the age of 83.

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 appointed as the military administrator of Lagos state in 1966 by Aguiyi Ironsi, who was the head of state at the time.

He became governor in 1967 and his administration was credited with carrying out major construction work and laying the plan for the state.

The veteran was also instrumental in developing the civil service in Lagos.

He was compulsorily retired in 1975 by the late Murtala Mohammed, former head of state.