1969 Wedding Photo Captures Nigeria's Military Elite Amid Civil War

On 19 April 1969, Colonel Mobolaji Olufunso Johnson, the then-Military Governor of Lagos State, and Colonel Shittu Alao, the Chief of the Air Staff, arrived with their wives at Christ Church Cathedral, Marina, Lagos, for the wedding of Nigeria’s Head of State, Major General Yakubu Gowon, and Victoria Zakari. The event took place against the backdrop of the Nigerian Civil War, which had begun in July 1967. The photograph, now a valuable historical record, showcases two senior military officers central to Nigeria’s military administration amid a brutal civil conflict.

The image features Colonel Mobolaji Johnson, Colonel Shittu Alao, and their wives, Mrs. Funmilayo Johnson and Mrs. Pauline Alao. Their presence highlights the social fabric of the era. Colonel Johnson was a foundational figure in Nigeria’s early post-independence military administration, born in Lagos on 9 February 1936. He received military training in both Ghana and the United Kingdom before embarking on a career that would place him at the heart of state governance.

Colonel Johnson’s involvement in Lagos administration began after the political turmoil of January 1966. By May 1967, following the creation of the state structure, Johnson was appointed the first Military Governor of Lagos State. This placed him in charge of a rapidly expanding city that served as both Nigeria’s commercial hub and the seat of the Federal Government, a challenging role during wartime. Johnson governed Lagos throughout the civil war and remained in office until July 1975.

At the time the photograph was taken, Colonel Shittu Alao held an equally pivotal military appointment as the Chief of the Air Staff. He was tasked with leading the nascent Nigerian Air Force during the demanding years of the civil war, a conflict that heavily relied on air superiority. Alao was part of a select group of Nigerian Army officers seconded to the Air Force, trained to take over leadership from German personnel who initially helped establish the service.

Colonel Alao underwent a year of intensive training in Germany in 1963, covering various aspects of air force operations. Upon his return, Alao served as the Senior Air Operations Officer at the Air Force headquarters in Lagos. He assumed leadership of the service from Brigadier George T. Kurubo on 5 August 1967, just as the Civil War intensified. Under his command, the Air Force faced considerable operational pressures, engaging actively in bombing missions.

Less than six months after the celebratory occasion, on 15 October 1969, Colonel Shittu Alao died in an aircraft accident near Uzebba, approximately 50 miles northwest of Benin. He was only 32 years old. The Nigerian Air Force’s historical account details that Alao was flying alone in an L-29 aircraft when he encountered severe weather conditions in the southwestern region of the country. He ran out of fuel while attempting to find a safe landing spot.

In stark contrast, Colonel Mobolaji Johnson’s career continued for many years after the wedding. He remained Military Governor of Lagos State until July 1975, retiring from the Nigerian Army to pursue a successful post-military career. This included significant involvement in organizations concerned with conservation and the broader development of Lagos, ultimately contributing to a long and distinguished public life. Johnson passed away on 30 October 2019.

Key points

• Colonel Mobolaji Johnson and Colonel Shittu Alao were prominent military figures during Nigeria's civil war.
• The 1969 wedding of Major General Yakubu Gowon and Victoria Zakari took place amid the Nigerian Civil War.
• Colonel Shittu Alao died in an aircraft accident just six months after the wedding.