Gbolahan Mudasiru

Gbolahan Mudasiru
Gbolahan Mudasiru in Uniform
Governor of Lagos State
In office
January 1984 – August 1986
Preceded byLateef Jakande
Succeeded byMike Akhigbe
Personal details
Born18 October 1945
Lagos, British Nigeria (now in Lagos State, Nigeria)
Died23 September 2003 (aged 57)
EducationIgbobi College
Military service
Allegiance Nigeria
Branch/service Nigerian Air Force
Rank Air Commodore

Gbolahan Mudasiru (18 October 1945[1] – 23 September 2003) was a Nigerian Air Force officer who was appointed Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria,[2] who served in office between January 1984 and August 1986 during the military regimes of General Muhammadu Buhari and his successor General Ibrahim Babangida.[3]

As governor, he continued the work of his predecessor Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande in improving schools infrastructure and the standards of teaching. He also introduced improved measures to keep the streets clean and orderly.[4] He attempted to ban street traders, but without success.[5] He set up committees to review the Lagos Metro line project initiated by Jakande, which recommended going ahead with the project, but it was cancelled on the orders of the head of state, General Buhari.[6] After a major fire devastated the Oko-Baba area of Ebute Metta, Mudasiru initiated construction of a medium Income Housing Estate.[7] After he left office, construction of schools ceased and existing buildings were no longer maintained.[8]

Mudasiru died in London on 23 September 2003.[4] Due to a dispute over funeral arrangements between the Nigerian Air force and the Lagos State government, he was buried in London.[9] He left a large estate. The will was disputed, with legal battles continuing between the trustees of the estate and his widow, Mrs Foluke Madasiru and her five children as late as 2009.[10]

  1. ^ Africa Who's who. Africa Journal Limited. 1991. ISBN 9780903274173.
  2. ^ Afisunlu, Feyi (28 May 2013). "Former Lagos state First Lady, Foluke Mudashiru passes on". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Nigerian States". WorldStatesmen. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  4. ^ a b Maureen Bakare (6 October 2003). "Tribute to Gbolahan Mudasiru". Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  5. ^ "All Fingers are not Equal" (PDF). Clean Foundation. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  6. ^ Emmanuel Oladesu (22 July 2009). "'My participation in Abacha govt was an act of God'". The Nation. Archived from the original on 12 April 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  7. ^ Ibrahim Sule (13 March 2004). "Flames of Fury". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 23 January 2005. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  8. ^ "Poultry sheds: Thirty years after". Compass. 8 December 2009.
  9. ^ Innocent Anaba (5 December 2003). "Why Gbolahan Mudasiru was buried in London, by widow". Vanguard. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  10. ^ Oye Ogunwale (12 May 2009). "Blackout stalls courts' sitting in Lagos • Suit on Mudasiru's estate affected". Daily Sun. Retrieved 1 May 2010.[permanent dead link]