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Emmaximus123

The Story Of How Ex Head Of State General Muritala Mohammed Was Assassinated

~5.2 mins read

He was whipping up a popularity that had fizzled out since Nigerian politicians in the First Republic discarded the trust of the Nigerian people, but that counted for nothing when 42 years ago today, on the 16th of February 1976, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, was shot down by coup plotters, in the midst of Ikoyi traffic, while on his way to work.

Today, anyone who has grown around the typical Nigerian displays of power would have a hard time understanding why a sitting military head of state would drive through Lagos traffic with no security.

Yet this was only a reflection of the genteel and almost reckless lack of self-importance with which Murtala, as he was fondly called by most Nigerians, went about his business.

Born on 9 November 1938 in Kano, one of his parentsâ€™ 11 children, Murtala joined the army at the age of 19.

Within 10 years, on the strength of his work ethic and numerous degrees and training programs, he was made Colonel, barely 30 at the time.

During this time, Murtala played a role in unseating Aguiyi Ironsi from power, after the latter took the seat in January 1966.

Murtala Mohammed and members of the Supreme Military Council (TIN Nigeria)

On 29th July 1975, General Yakubu Gowon was overthrown while attending the 12th summit of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in Kampala, Uganda.

Muhammed, who had just recently been made Federal Commissioner for Information (equivalent to the role of Minister for Information and Communication in todayâ€™s administration) took power as the new Military Head of State.

Murtala, with Olusegun Obasanjo as Chief of Staff, Defence HQ, (a role which was practically the same as being Vice President), set about changing a lot of the policies and overhauling the institutions that had made Gowon unpopular in his final days in power.

A popular leader

Within the short span of 201 days, he was able to restore a love for the nation, a clear sense of patriotism that had been lost when Nigeriaâ€™s first civilian leaders first began to show that having the key to the vault means that money will begin to vanish and then show up in unexpected places, in expensive cars and fat bank accounts.

After the rigours of the civil war, Murtala set about to re-organising and demilitarising a large wing of the Nigerian army, reducing the total number of active soldiers by 100,000.

General Murtala Muhammed was assassinated in this Mercedes Benz (Naija Underground)

As head of state, Muhammed put in place plans to build a new Federal Capital Territory due to Lagos being overcrowded.

A panel headed by Justice Akinola Aguda chose the Abuja area as the new capital ahead of other proposed locations.

On February 3, 1976, Muhammed announced that the Federal Capital would in the future move to a federal territory location of about 8,000 square kilometres in the central part of the country.

After it was alleged that the 1973 census was heavily weighted in favour of the North, Murtala cancelled and nullified the results, much to the pleasure of the other regions who were desperate for equal representation.

These actions reflected the ethos of a man who felt he would treat everyone as he wished to be treated.

Murtala was seen as very upright and he dealt with his colleagues and everyone else with a sense of expectation.

Many in that time say he was a natural born leader, charismatic, direct and ambitious. His decisiveness, especially, won him popular support among Nigerians.

However, Murtala was a young soldier from the North. Among his region and other soldiers who felt they deserved a bigger say in the direction of the country, his changes seemed too abrupt, too radical, too intense even. Some called him mercurial.

Ultimately, coupled with his belief that his reckless abandon, this led a group of soldiers to call time on his government and cut him down in his prime.

Murder in the Capital

On February 13, 1976, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed was on his way to work in Dodan Barracks. While sitting in his Black Mercedes Saloon Car along with his Aide-De-Camp (ADC), Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa, he was ambushed by a group of soldiers.

Murtala, along with his entourage, was killed in a hail of bullets, a task that was made all the easier because the only visible sign of protection was a pistol carried by his orderly.

His assassination was part of a coup attempt led by Lt. Col Buka Suka Dimka, who was the head of the Nigerian Army Physical Training Corps. On killing the Head of State, the coup plotters swung into action, taking, first, the media.

Murtala had made a meal of nationalising private media, including the two largest newspapers and strengthening the reach of state-owned media, particularly the radio network.

Around late afternoon, on that day, Dimka announced on the radio that the Young Revolutionaries had taken over the government. He went ahead to declare a 12-hour curfew.

His message was played throughout the day on radio alongside martial music.

This development heightened an already tense atmosphere. Many knew that Murtala had been killed and in a country where war was only a recent memory, there was already a rumour-based list of things to expect.

Dimkaâ€™s announcement confirmed that this was an attempt, however successful, to wrestle power from the government.

It threw everyone and everything into a state of pandemonium. In Lagos, people were too scared to come out of their homes and go to work, for fear of reprisal attacks by troops loyal to Murtala or a tussle between both sides.

The disorder and confusion were not limited to Nigerians alone.

Murtala's body recieved in Kano. (TIN Nigeria)

How Arthur Ashe and Pele almost got trapped in Nigeria

Nigeria in the 70s was enjoying a massive oil boom. The proceeds of this new found wealth made its way into building infrastructure and making cities like Lagos a desirable destination for the West and corporate concerns.

The coup happened while the city of Lagos was playing host to the World Championship Tennis Pro Circuit Series.

Players like Arthur Ashe, Jeff Borowiak and Dick Stockton were vying for the prize money while enjoying the many bounties that Lagos has to offer.

Stockton had informed his colleagues at the Federal Palace Hotel where they were staying, of the coup after Paul Svehlik, the WCT tour manager had called him to tell him about the assassination.

Further down the hall, the Brazilian football legend, Edson Arantes de Nascimento, or Pele as he is known the world over, was listening to the radio. He had come to the country as part of a tour sponsored by Pepsi.

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BUSTED: Rep's Aide Caught Stealing US Dollars After Breaking Into Another Lawmaker's Office Inside National Assembly

A Man Identified As Kabiru Beat Security Checks At The National Assembly Complex And Gained Entry Into A Reps Member's Office W...

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SammyBrew07 4 yrs 338

A man identified as Kabiru beat security checks at the National Assembly complex and gained entry into a reps member's office where he stole some dollars and other valuable items.

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The suspect, reports say, sneaked into the lawmaker's office "located on the fourth floor of the Assembly complex using a master key around 2:30pm on Friday and made away with the hard currency and some other office equipment including computers, photocopy machine and printer."

SaharaReporters' reporting shows Kabiru was a Special Assistant to one lawmaker from Adamawa State and was known by many people in the complex.

He was said to have been identified by security operatives, who analysed the footage before he was arrested.

Few moments after Kabiru was caught, a cluster of lawmakers including Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Benjamin Kalu, security personnel were all sighted at the ground floor of the complex where the suspect was being held.

Reports further show that there was pressure from the boss of the suspect to release him and bury the matter.

A CCTV footage obtained of the incident showed the suspect while carrying out the operation and has since confessed to the crime, according to SaharaReporters.

It was gathered that a similar incident took place last week when the office of Hon. Ali Datti Yaku representing Bebeji Constituency of Kano State located on the third floor of the complex was burgled by unknown persons, who made away with valuable items.

SCOOPER had meanwhile, reported how unknown persons are reported to have burgled the Niger State House of Assembly in Minna carting away not less than N15 million.

It was learnt that the target of the burglars was the strong room of the state legislature, where most of the money meant for the day-to-day running of the assembly is usually kept.

Part of the money stolen was said to be for the upkeep allowance of a lawmaker including his furniture allowance said to be about N6 million.

Another legislator was reported to have lost approximately N3 million when the strong room was forced open.

The burglary was discovered when a lawmaker went to the Assembly complex Saturday and approached the accounts department messenger that he wanted to deposit money in the strongroom for safe keeping till Monday.

It was gathered that the messenger led the lawmaker to the department only to find out that the door to the strongroom had been forced open and investigations revealed that the only item stolen was the money kept there for safe keeping

The incident was reported to the police leading to the arrest and detention of virtually all staff of the accounts department.

No staff of the Assembly was prepared to speak on the matter, but the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Wasiu Abiodun, when contacted, confirmed the theft but not the amount stolen.

â€œI can confirm an incident of house breaking and theft, we are investigating the matter,â€ Abiodun said.

Meanwhile, additional security has been provided in the Assembly complex with those coming and going out being thoroughly checked.

In other news, President Muhammdu Buhari presented the 2021 budget estimate to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The proposed expenditure is put at N13.08 trillion with a crude oil benchmark price of $40 per barrel and daily oil production estimate of 1.86 million barrels (inclusive of condensates of 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day).

This also includes N1.35 trillion spending by Government Owned Enterprises and Grants and Aid funded expenditure of N354.85 billion.

The budget contains recurrent expenditure of N5.65 trillion, personnel cost of N3.76 trillion and debt service of N3.12 trillion.

Statutory transfers has been put at N484.4 billion while Pension, Gratuities & Retirees Benefits was put at N501.19 billion and Overhead cost at N625.50 billion.

A projected inflation rate of 11.95 per cent and GDP growth rate of 3.00 per cent was considered.

The president budgeted N128 billion for the National Assembly and N63.5 billion for the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Based on the foregoing fiscal assumptions and parameters, total federally distributable revenue is estimated at N8.433 trillion in 2021. Total revenue available to fund the 2021 Federal Budget is estimated at N7.886 trillion. This includes Grants and Aid of N354.85 billion as well as the revenues of 60 Government-Owned Enterprises.

The deficit, Mr. Buhari said, will be financed mainly by new borrowings totaling N4.28 trillion, N205.15 billion from Privatisation Proceeds and N709.69 billion in drawdowns on multilateral and bilateral loans secured for specific projects and programmes.

Oil revenue is projected at N2.01 trillion. Non-oil revenue is estimated at N1.49 trillion.

Other allocations include N29.7 billion for the North East Development Commission, N110 billion for the Nigerian Judicial Council, N70.05 billion for UBEC and N40 billion for the electoral umpire, INEC.

Mr. Buhari said the 2021 budget is titled â€˜Economic Recovery and Resilienceâ€™ with the aim of promoting economic diversity and enhancing social inclusion.

Others are Public Complaints Commission â€“ N5.20 billion; Human Rights Commission â€“ N3.00 billion; and Basic Health Care Provision Fund â€“ N35.03 billion.

President Buhari also said in compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, all beneficiaries of Statutory Transfers will be required to provide the Budget Office of the Federation with periodic reports on the allocation and expenditure of funds for inclusion in the quarterly Budget Implementation Report.

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The Story Of How Ex Head Of State General Muritala Mohammed Was Assassinated

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