Background
He was born on February 9, 1936, to a father who was a sergeant-major in the Royal West African Frontier Force, and served in East Africa during the World War.
He was born on February 9, 1936, to a father who was a sergeant-major in the Royal West African Frontier Force, and served in East Africa during the World War.
Educated at Reagan Memorial Baptist School and Yaba Methodist School in Lagos, and the Hussey College, Warri (1951-3) and the Methodist Boys' High School in Lagos (1954-7) for his secondary education.
He joined the army in March 1958 and the next year was selected for Mons Officer Cadet School, followed by Sandhurst between January 1960 and December 1961.
Commissioned in December 1961, he was posted to the 5th Battalion serving in the Congo (Zaire) with the UN Peace Keeping Force. He returned as a captain to the Federal Guards, from there he went to 2nd Brigade Headquarters at Apapa as Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster. Shortly after the 1966 coup, he was posted to Ibadan as second in command of the 4th Battalion. Later transferred to Benin as commander of the garrison, but long before Benin was invaded by the Biafrans, he was posted back to Lagos in May 1967, to become Military Governor of the state.
In 1968 he was installed as Majeobaje (Chief) of Lagos, by the Oba of Lagos, the senior traditional ruler and, in 1970, he was given another title of Chieftaincy —Maiyegun of Ikorodu.
Tall, with the discipline and bearing of an ex-guards commander, he has wrestled with the complex problems of Lagos, the most densely populated state. He has reformed the tax system, resolved chieftaincy and trade disputes and reorganised local government councils. Known as “Bolaji” to his friends, his blunt and tough stand for what he believes is right has earned him some criticism in the Lagos Press, but he has maintained the confidence of General Gowon since his first appointment.