J. M. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Chief Joseph Modupe Johnson (30 March, 1912 –- 15 June, 1987), CFR, Apesin of Lagos, was a Nigeria
n politician. Born in Lagos
, and was educated at the William Wilberforce Academy.
during World War II
, he returned to civil life after the war's end and was a bank clerk, and a radio broadcaster for a few years. From 1948, he tried his hands in business and politics and was elected into the Ibadan District Council the same year and later became the first and only ever none indigene to serve as the chairman of the Ibadan district council at Mapo hall. In 1956 he became a Nigerian federal cabinet minister and served in internal affairs, later in labour and social welfare and Sports, acting twice as Prime Minister in the coalition Government.
In these capacities he distinguished himself by resigning as President of the I.L.O. over the admission of apartheid South Africa as member. He built the first and largest National Sports Stadium in Lagos, attended the victorious battle of Nigeria's Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Boxing champion of the world, Dick Tiger vs Gene Fullmer in California, and in collaboration with London based world renowned boxing promoter, Jack Solomons, staged the very first world boxing title fight in Africa, In Ibadan, Western Nigeria between Tiger and Fullmer, in 1963, well before the much publicized Ali Bomaye fight between Muhammed Ali vs George Foreman in Zaire, in 1974.
Muhammed Ali called on JM Johnson when he visited Nigeria. In 1963 he retired from politics by declining to contest the General Elections. This was, as he put it, to make way for the young- a first time feat of willingly given up political high office- and this endeared him to all Nigerians. Family-born into Lagosian & Brazilian(Adao da Costa) families of Lafiaji, Lagos, he was tall, handsome, flamboyant, gregarious and renowned as a ladies man. He sired several children from mothers of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities. His second son, Abiola, followed in his footsteps, became a politician and was a Regional Minister in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria.
CHIEF ANTHONY ABIOLA JOHNSON(B.J.),(b 1947-),Apesin of Lagos, is the son of Nigeria's former Federal Minister, and was himself a Regional Minister in Nigeria. Born in Lagos, attended St Gregorys College, City of London Polytechnic qualified and worked as Marine Navigation and Cargo Officer, Shipping Director, Port Agent, and Ship owner. Delved into politics from 1977 through various military interregnums, leaning left of centre, taught by eponymous Obafemi Awolowo and iconic Lateef Jakande, joined anti military rule crusade, and became State Commissioner for Transportation, and later for Commerce and Industry. He introduced the M.O.T (road worthiness) test in Nigeria, set up LASTMA and LAMATA and constructed the Opebi, Oba Akran and secretariat roads medians in Ikeja to ease traffic delays. He was President of Professional Boxing Authority of Nigeria, Chairman Waka Club.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n politician. Born in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, and was educated at the William Wilberforce Academy.
Life
After a brief stint in the Nigerian ArmyNigerian Army
The Nigerian Army the largest of the Nigerian Armed Forces, has about 100,000 professional personnel. The original elements of the Royal West African Frontier Force in Nigeria were formed in 1900....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he returned to civil life after the war's end and was a bank clerk, and a radio broadcaster for a few years. From 1948, he tried his hands in business and politics and was elected into the Ibadan District Council the same year and later became the first and only ever none indigene to serve as the chairman of the Ibadan district council at Mapo hall. In 1956 he became a Nigerian federal cabinet minister and served in internal affairs, later in labour and social welfare and Sports, acting twice as Prime Minister in the coalition Government.
In these capacities he distinguished himself by resigning as President of the I.L.O. over the admission of apartheid South Africa as member. He built the first and largest National Sports Stadium in Lagos, attended the victorious battle of Nigeria's Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Boxing champion of the world, Dick Tiger vs Gene Fullmer in California, and in collaboration with London based world renowned boxing promoter, Jack Solomons, staged the very first world boxing title fight in Africa, In Ibadan, Western Nigeria between Tiger and Fullmer, in 1963, well before the much publicized Ali Bomaye fight between Muhammed Ali vs George Foreman in Zaire, in 1974.
Muhammed Ali called on JM Johnson when he visited Nigeria. In 1963 he retired from politics by declining to contest the General Elections. This was, as he put it, to make way for the young- a first time feat of willingly given up political high office- and this endeared him to all Nigerians. Family-born into Lagosian & Brazilian(Adao da Costa) families of Lafiaji, Lagos, he was tall, handsome, flamboyant, gregarious and renowned as a ladies man. He sired several children from mothers of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities. His second son, Abiola, followed in his footsteps, became a politician and was a Regional Minister in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria.
CHIEF ANTHONY ABIOLA JOHNSON(B.J.),(b 1947-),Apesin of Lagos, is the son of Nigeria's former Federal Minister, and was himself a Regional Minister in Nigeria. Born in Lagos, attended St Gregorys College, City of London Polytechnic qualified and worked as Marine Navigation and Cargo Officer, Shipping Director, Port Agent, and Ship owner. Delved into politics from 1977 through various military interregnums, leaning left of centre, taught by eponymous Obafemi Awolowo and iconic Lateef Jakande, joined anti military rule crusade, and became State Commissioner for Transportation, and later for Commerce and Industry. He introduced the M.O.T (road worthiness) test in Nigeria, set up LASTMA and LAMATA and constructed the Opebi, Oba Akran and secretariat roads medians in Ikeja to ease traffic delays. He was President of Professional Boxing Authority of Nigeria, Chairman Waka Club.