Saidu Ayodele Balogun
Encyclopedia
Major General Saidu Ayodele Balogun was appointed the first Governor of Ogun State
, Nigeria
after it was formed from part of the old Western State
in March 1976, holding office until July 1978 during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo.
Balogun was an Infantry Brigade commander at the time of the coup in July 1975 when General Yakubu Gowon
was ousted by general Murtala Mohammed
.
When appointed governor of the newly created Ogun State by Murtala Mohammed's successor, Olusegun Obasanjo, he faced various problems such as finding accommodation for government workers, who at first had to commute from Ibadan
in the new Oyo State
to Abeokuta
, although by the end of his term of office most had found local accommodations. The Government offices were mostly rented at first.
He established the Ogun State School of Health Technology Ilese-Ijebu, at first on a temporary site.
Ogun State
Ogun State is a state in South-western Nigeria. It borders Lagos State to the South, Oyo and Osun states to the North, Ondo State to the east and the republic of Benin to the west. Abeokuta is the capital and largest city in the state...
, Nigeria
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...
after it was formed from part of the old Western State
Western State (Nigeria)
The former Western State of Nigeria was formed in 1967 when the Western Region was subdivided into the states of Lagos and Western State. Its capital was Ibadan, which was the capital of the old region....
in March 1976, holding office until July 1978 during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo.
Balogun was an Infantry Brigade commander at the time of the coup in July 1975 when General Yakubu Gowon
Yakubu Gowon
General Yakubu "Jack" Dan-Yumma Gowon was the head of state of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975. He took power after one military coup d'etat and was overthrown in another...
was ousted by general Murtala Mohammed
Murtala Mohammed
General Murtala Ramat Mohammed born was a military ruler of Nigeria from 1975 until his assassination in 1976.-Role during 1960s coups:...
.
When appointed governor of the newly created Ogun State by Murtala Mohammed's successor, Olusegun Obasanjo, he faced various problems such as finding accommodation for government workers, who at first had to commute from Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
in the new Oyo State
Oyo State
Ọyọ State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria, with its capital at Ibadan. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east by Osun State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west partly by Ogun State and partly by the Republic of Benin....
to Abeokuta
Abeokuta
Abeokuta is the largest city and capital of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria and is situated at , on the Ogun River; 64 miles north of Lagos by railway, or 81 miles by water. As of 2005, Abeokuta and the surrounding area had a population of 593,140....
, although by the end of his term of office most had found local accommodations. The Government offices were mostly rented at first.
He established the Ogun State School of Health Technology Ilese-Ijebu, at first on a temporary site.