Friday the 13th. It was a day before Valentine’s Day. And the year was 1976. Lovers across the world were perfecting plans on how to surprise their mates. Some were considering yellow roses while others settled for a day lapping up the tropical sun on Bar Beach. The morning started out like any other. Lagosians were getting ready for the daily hustle and in no time, traffic started building up. The Lagos deity was awake and the nation’s capital responded to the crows of the cock. Ever dutiful, the 37-year-old Nigerian Head of State summoned his driver, orderly and aide-de-camp. It was time for work.

FULL DETAILS AND PICTURES HERE: http://.com/murtala-muhammed-nigerias-most-popular-leader/

Without the slightest hint of anything sinister waiting for them despite many labelling a 13th February an evil omen, Nigeria’s 4th Head of State and the unwavering commander of the Federal Military Government (FMG) hopped into his official car, a black Mercedes Benz limousine. The driver shanasenjin-ed (started the engine), proceeded along their normal George Street route. The unassuming group headed for the center of power of the black world’s most populous nation -Dodan Barracks.

Meanwhile, all over Lagos, humanity poured out onto the streets and the traffic slowly gained momentum. In little time, the Head of State was caught in the Friday traffic. A simple leader with populist ideas, he had no speeding convoys, refused heavily-armed security details and preferred to stay in the traffic with his ‘Fellow Nigerians’ until it eased. They were all calm while some other drivers kept glancing at their much-loved and admired leader. Some shouted out at him with joy and excitement while some others waved like their limbs would fly off the torso. Like a Hugo Chavez, Murtala felt a deep connection with the people and he must have been surveying the area full of his loyal and smiling compatriots, many peering at him through their cars when all of a sudden…


Like a dark scene from a horror movie, the Mercedes conveying the leader was suddenly ambushed by a handful of well-armed soldiers as it snailed its way through the traffic. The terror that ensued upon firing the gunshots was instantaneous. Nigerians adulating their great leader just minutes ago fled the scene in a matter of seconds for dear lives, drivers abandoned their vehicles in the traffic and put Usain Bolt to shame while mothers grabbed their toddlers and scampered off to safety like terrified gazelles. Claps of thunder coming from guns sputtering iron-hot bullets filled the air. There was chaos. The putrid smell of disorder was choking. As in, it was a real igborotidaru moment.

In a few minutes of blood-chilling anarchy, the young Nigerian leader was hit and it did not take long before his smart uniform was soaked in warm, fresh blood. Murtala had been assassinated. Muritala was dead. Gone. The nation would not recover -not even 37 years after the carnage. Welcome to the world of one of Nigeria’s most remembered leaders. Nigerians very rarely shed tears for their leaders but if there is one who evokes so much emotion, pity, ululations and tears, Murtala is the man. For many Nigerians, he gave the ultimate sacrifice for a nation he fought for, and is considered a national hero.

Yes. Tenacious. Incorrigibly unyielding. Very very very stubborn. Charismatic. Highly mercurial. Extremely determined. Disobedient. Kind. Very quick to anger. Very religious. Brilliant. Ambitious. Incredibly courageous. Bold. Impulsive. Selfless. Unpredictable. Rebellious. Patriotic. Imperfect. Populist. Popular. Fierce. Fiery. Those are the exact words that come to my mind whenever I remember General MURTALA RAMAT MOHAMMED, Nigeria’s hot-tempered legendary leader of uncommon tenacity brutally cut short in the prime of his life by a tool he once controlled and mastered -the bindiga (Hausa for gun).

BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS

For many Nigerians, getting to know of Murtala Mohammed was from the green, crispy N20 naira note which had its face emblazoned on it and really sober stories told by parents. Many were too young to grasp what happened in 1976, and even up till this moment, many are still dazed as to what happened. It is hoped that by the time you finish reading this, Murtala Mohammed might still remain a ghost but surely not a stranger to you anymore. Born on a Tuesday, the 8th of November, 1938 in the Kurawa Quarters of Kano State to Risqua Muhammed and Uwani Ramatu, he had 7 siblings (one girl and seven boys) and he was the second child. The Alkalin Kano and Chief Kadi of the State, (Chief Judge) was his grandfather (same with his great-grandfather, Salihu Dattuwa) and he would also later get infused in Quranic education. A Hausa by tribe, he was initially referred to as Murtala Kurawa after their quarters but later took up the name we all know him by today. Murtala’s father was schooled and literate. He was trained as a veterinary inspector and served the Kano State Government in the Hides and Skin Department but later on left to start his own cattle-rearing enterprise.


EDUCATION AND SCHOOLING

-Cikin Gida Primary School

-Gidan Makama Primary School -Barewa College, Zaria (formerly Government College) – On the 26th January, 1952, he was admitted as student number 941 as the school itself was founded in 1909. He was one of the ten students from Kano and finished in 1957. One of his classmates was the late General Mohammed Shuwa shot dead at his home by gunmen in Maiduguri in November 2012. Shuwa was one of the prominent figures during the Nigerian Civil War and later a leading figure in Murtala’s government. Gowon also attended the same college.

-Regular Officers Special Training School , ROSTS (Teshie, Ghana), now Ghana Military Academy where he was taught as a 2nd Lieutenant infantry tactics and military laws by the late Odumegwu Ojukwu, a man of uncommon brilliance, in 1958. Another student of Ojukwu in Ghana was Benjamin Adekunle also known as The Black Scorpion. Both Murtala and Adekunle would later face their teacher in a bloody duel in the Nigerian Civil War. Obasanjo and Gowon also attended ROSTS. Cadets from all over West Africa then attended ROSTS for six months military training before proceeding to Sandhurst for course completion and commissioning.

-Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS): He attended RMAS, a British Army officer initial training center in a village called Sandhurst, Berkshire and about 55 kilometres from London. The academy has the Her Majesty, the Queen of England as its Colonel-in-Chief and Commander.

Catterick School of Signals, England.

-Joint Services’ Staff College, England.

LOVE, ROMANCE, MARRIAGE & FAMILY
Murtala might be a strong-headed soldier but he was an amazing family man. In 2006, his wife recollects the fond memories: At home and at work, my husband was one and the same person. His behaviour at work and home were the same. He was a firm person, upright and had a great sense of humour.

His Yoruba wife (with partly Fulani roots), Mrs. Hafsat Ajoke Muhammed said they met in 1961 while she was studying at the School of Dental Hygiene in Lagos, then he was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army. Both of them were introduced to each other by his cousin. They fell in love, hit it off, and when they met in Kaduna later, he proposed to her and they got married in Kaduna in 1963 after her studies, the same year he became a Captain. Their marriage was a blissful and peaceful one. In 1965, the marriage was blessed with a cheeky baby girl who later attended the Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos.

On the 22nd of January, 1966, they had their first son, Zakari. When Murtala had a hectic schedule and had to be away on official duty, she put up with him and took care of the homefront. When he was made the Head of State, Ajoke would stay awake for days, weep out of fear and anxiety, remembering the bloody coups and countercoups, knowing fully how unpredictable life in the military could be. All she could do was to pray. She resigned her job as a dental therapist and became a full-time housewife catering for their kids who were actually very young then. As at the time he was killed, his daughter, Zalihatu was just two years old.

When Murtala was killed and the news was relayed to her, she broke down and wept for her dear husband. Her shock doubled when she heard of Bisalla’s involvement and kept asking ‘Oh, even you?!‘ There was an incident after his death: She asked an ambassador as to how Murtala would be buried, and she was stunned by his response: ‘Oh, he has been buried’. She was stunned and stung at the same time that her own husband was interred in her absence.

Today, Mrs. Ajoke Muhammed is ageing gracefully, is widely respected for her charitable activities and calm demeanour (and yes, her beautiful garden at her Cooper Road residence in Ikoyi!) She does not joke with her botanical garden and she salvages plants going into extinction and plants them. Even as a First Lady, she was not unnecessarily flamboyant. (see picture). Her marriage was blessed with six children shown here with their ages when their dad died:

-AISHAT (12 years, now Mrs. Aishat Oyebode): Now a graduate of law from the Kings College, University of London. She runs an asset management company and also bagged a masters degree in Business Administration from the Imperial College, University of London. She is also the Executive Secretary of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF).

-FATIMAH (Fatimo, 9): She trained as a horticulturist and is also a qualified accountant.

-ZAKARI (1o): He later died in a shooting incident in 1994 in circumstances that are still very unclear.

-RISQUA ABBA (: The only surviving son. Got a business administration degree from the University of Lagos and later did his postgraduate programme at the University of Cardiff, United Kingdom. He was a Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Privatization.

-ZELIHA (Zalihatu, 2): Based in Lagos where she works for a real estate surveying company. Economics graduate from Nottingham University, United Kingdom.

-JUMAI (she was just a baby, less than a year old when her father was killed). The daughters are now married.


MILITARY CAREER
Trained as a regular combatant at Sandhurst (see picture above), he later took courses in Army Signals. He was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the Nigerian Army in 1961 and became a lieutenant seven months later. In 1962, he was drafted to Congo as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force. Upon returning to Nigeria, he served as the aide-de-camp (ADC) to Dr. Koyejo Majekodunmi, the Western Region Administrator put in place following the declaration of a State of Emergency. He was later appointed the Officer-in-Chief, First Brigade Signal Troops, Kaduna after which he proceeded again to Catterick School of Signals for an advanced course in telecommunications. Twenty eight months after he was commissioned, he was promoted and became a captain and appointed to oversee a signals unit at the Brigade Headquarters, Kaduna.

By the end of 1964, Murtala was already a temporary Major (known as a T/Major). Thereafter, he was transferred to Apapa as the Commanding Officer, 1 Signal Squadron .Lagos then was the nation’s capital where his uncle, Alhaji Inuwa Wada later became the Minister of Defence in 1965. When the first coup was carried out in January 1966, Murtala was still in Lagos. He was stung by the coup with the loss of prominent northerners. With IBB, Abacha and the rest, he would carefully plan and launch a devastating countercoup in July of the same year which cost Aguiyi-Ironsi and many others their dear lives. But please note that Abacha was not a participant in the July 1975 coup and might have even preferred resistance.

ROLE IN THE CIVIL WAR

The Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) lasted for thirty blood-soaked months and one of the principal actors of that sad phase of Nigerian history was Murtala. During the war, he was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army 2nd Division. Although he flouted rules from the top and brushed aside orders from the Army Headquarters, Murtala took no atom of nonsense or disobedience from his juniors. He commanded his division with the ruthlessness and determination of an Alexander the Great and they had some spectacular victories -and some unforgettably stinging defeats in the hands of the Biafran soldiers.

It was his division that routed forces of the Biafran Army and expelled them from the Midwest Region (discussed above), and from there he moved up to cross the River Niger to join the 1st Division which was on its way to Enugu City and Nsukka. At a point during the war, 28-year-old Murtala and his men reportedly stormed Asaba, Delta State and supervised an orgy of killing of innocent civilians.

BECOMING THE HEAD OF STATE: Events & Achievements
The organogram of Murtala’s government in particular reference to his foreign policies
[img]http://.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/15-MURTALA-MOHAMMED-STRUCTURE-OF-LEADERSHIP-FOREIGN-POLICIES.jpg[/img]
This SMC was constituted later on after an initial emergency council which included Commodore Michael Adelanwa as the CNS. It was at this stage that coup plotting became really attractive for junior officers as the plotters were all rewarded with plum government appointment, raking off substantial financial gains in the process.

As evening was approaching on the 30th of July 1975, Murtala made his maiden speech to the nation as the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces

When he came to power, he constituted the Federal Executive Council with 25 ministerial posts, 12 of which were held by civilians even though the real power was vested in the Supreme Military Council (SMC) of which he was the Chairman. The 19 state governors were not members of the SMC, thus giving him more power to operate from the federal center. Governors did not formulate their own policies but implemented the ones Murtala sent down from the federal level. This way, Murtala’s impact was directly felt across the nation.

The federal government also took over the running of state universities and broadcasting, taking charge of the two largest newspapers published in the country. He also set up a 50-man committee to see to a new draft constitution and make plans on handing over to the civilians by October 1979. The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) was headed by the late Justice Rotimi Williams.

Although very brief (just a little over six months), Murtala’s time was full of events. Upon assuming power, Murtala (sorry, that flows better than referring him to Mohammed) made it abundantly clear that he would brook no nonsense. He was very decisive with issues, wasted no time and because of this and many more, he became the darling of millions of Nigerians. His country men and women were immensely happy with him and were satisfied that at long last, Nigeria now has a strong, decisive and uncompromising leader, the one with the discipline and tenacity to take them to the Promised Land.

ABUJA, THE NEW FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY

In his characteristically decisive manner, he felt Lagos was too dirty, rowdy and crime-ridden to be the nation’s capital and set in place plans to built a new Federal Capital Territory, to be sited in the Abuja Emirate. He set up a panel headed by Justice Akinola Aguda to consider the possibility of a new capital. Few days before he was killed, on the 3rd of February 1976, he made an announcement that the Federal Capital would be moved to a ‘federal territory of about 8,000 square kilometers in the central part of the country.’

CREATION OF SEVEN NEW STATES

He set up a panel headed by Justice Ayo Irikefe on the creation of seven more states (Niger, Bauchi, Gongola, Benue, Ogun, Imo and Bendel) to the 12 existing ones on 22nd December, 1975. The panel came up with a report which was utilized in the formation of new states in 1976.

CANCELLING 1973 CENSUS: Upon becoming the Head of State, Murtala proceeded to cancel the 1973 census which was lopsided to favor the northerners, after which he adopted the 1963 figures.

PERSONAL CHARACTER

Murtala was a blunt, outspoken and consummate risk taker. A soldier who ironically had no regard for the chain of command, he was in a class of his own when it came to dangerous exploits. While planning a coup against his own Commander-in-Chief, Gowon, Murtala, then a brigadier, went to Muhammed D Yusufu, who was Gowon’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) and told him pointblank that there was a plan for a coup and he could go and reveal it to ‘anyone he liked’. That was not Murtala’s first time of announcing a coup in such a blunt manner. He did the same in July 1966 before Aguiyi-Ironsi’s government collapsed.

Murtala was an obstinate personality (alagidi sombori). When he took part in the coup that brought Gown to power in 1966, Murtala wanted the title of the Supreme Commander to himself even if that was improper and made little sense as Gowon was the Head of State. He insisted he wanted the post but seeing that the military advisors from the United States and the United Kingdom did not support him, he backed out and the ever-diplomatic Gowon compensated him by making him a Lieutenant Colonel (he was acting prior to that time) and also made the Inspector of the Army Signals Corps.

-A no-nonsense person, Murtala was known for his legendary outbursts of terrifying anger. Although many of his fans may not be aware of this especially with the passage of time, I could have easily dubbed this piece ‘Nigeria’s Angriest Leader’. However, his fire-and-brimstone part was just one side, he had his good fractions too. Apart from the earth-shaking anger, he also exhibited what some have described as arrogance and insubordination, especially to his superiors and there are many instances given to illustrate this:

WHY THE NAME ‘RAMAT’?

Ramat, the name of Murtala’s mother, is a name in Islam or Arab-speaking areas and it is a shortened form of Rahmatallah, meaning ‘the Mercy of God’. A very beautiful name I must say. When the BBC first announced Murtala’s coming to power, they stated his name as Murtala ‘Rufai’ Mohammed but 24 hours later, it was changed to Murtala Ramat Muhammed. When he died, he left behind many relatives, including his mother, Hajia Ramatu, his uncle Alhaji Inuwa Wada (Magajin Gari Kano) , wife and children.


[img]http://.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/65-MURTALA-MUHAMMED-LAGOS-GOVERNOR-MOSQUE.jpg[/img]

http://.com/murtala-muhammed-nigerias-most-popular-leader/

THANK YOU.

He paid the perfect price for his supervision of the 'Asaba Massacre' during the civil war. Pls get yourself a copy of Chinua Achebe's there was a country. A murderer of innocent women and kids. I have no doubt that he's in the hottest and darkest part of hell. That's all.

Thanks. While I get the book you recommended, you too should read the write-up first before throwing someone into Hell. That's all .

2iic: He paid the perfect price for his supervision of the 'Asaba Massacre' during the civil war. Pls get yourself a copy of Chinua Achebe's there was a country. A murderer of innocent women and kids. I have no doubt that he's in the hottest and darkest part of hell. That's all.

Says who?

On to the Next One!!

At a point during the war, 28-year-old Murtala and his men reportedly stormed Asaba, Delta State and supervised an Fun of killing of innocent civilians.

[size=13pt]I hope he is rotting in hell where he rightly belongs.[/size]
The same bullets he pumped on civilians for sport,were dished to him
God bless the Dimka lineage for ridding us of this monster and avenging the death of innocent civilians
If I had my way Murtala Mohammed airport would be changed to a more befitting Statesman's name

DISCIPLINED AND PRINCIPLED MAN. FROM WHAT I READ ABOUT HIM. THE CIA KILLED HIM APPARENTLY. TOO BLACK TOO STRONG

thats a great man...tgim

Mumm intresting...pls say something good about the man o

wow!!! What a long piece? Thank God for the scroll down button, the thing just dey move with speed of light to the bottom page. I love the green notes though. Nostalgia...

The general was a war criminal.He was guilty of committing one of the worst genocides in african history.Emma okocha's blood on the niger really potrayed him for who he really is.

babyosisi:

[size=13pt]I hope he is rotting in hell where he rightly belongs.[/size]
The same bullets he pumped on civilians for sport,were dished to him
God bless the Dimka lineage for ridding us of this monster and avenging the death of innocent civilians
If I had my way Murtala Mohammed airport would be changed to a more befitting Statesman's name

I hope he meets Ojukwu there, the man who selfishly led his People into a War that almost became Genocide.

Van snickers:

I hope he meets Ojukwu there, the man who selfishly led his People into a War that almost became Genocide.

Ojukwu died at a ripe old age of 70 plus and was celebrated by Nigeria
And he didn't drink rat poison either
This one was slaughtered like a dog on a city street in Rambo style
He deserved it because of his atrocities

[s][/s],watz ma own,just passing.

He was a tribalist I don't haye him though but I hate wat he did

Ahasco:

He was a tribalist I don't haye him though but I hate wat he did

Them send you

babyosisi:

Ojukwu died at a ripe old age of 70 plus and was celebrated by Nigeria
And he didn't drink rat poison either
This one was slaughtered like a dog on a city street in Rambo style
He deserved it

What's your point. Ojukwu was just as Brutal.

Excuse me plz. But is 2day friday 13th? Or even febuary?

babyosisi:

[size=13pt]I hope he is rotting in hell where he rightly belongs.[/size]
The same bullets he pumped on civilians for sport,were dished to him
God bless the Dimka lineage for ridding us of this monster and avenging the death of innocent civilians
If I had my way Murtala Mohammed airport would be changed to a more befitting Statesman's name

U forgot d part where Biafra soldiers killed all midwesterners dat r nt of ibo extraction as they retreat.

he was the best we have had (dead or alive )up till now !

ecosanders: U forgot d part where Biafra soldiers killed all midwesterners dat r nt of ibo extraction as they retreat.

You are free to say what you will about those Biafran soldiers and I am also free to call Murtala by his names
No be so?

why only claiming one part of his heritage and not the other.

kano is a city of high immigration/emigration.

He sure is the most popular Nigerian leader.He is the first Nigeria leader I read about in Nigeria/African history with great achievements. My grandma said he once told her he have crush on her lol

MrNigeria.:
he was the best we have had up till now !

Great point. I would have placed Murtala Muhammed as Nigeria's No 1 leader, but that place has been taken by Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Still, Gen. Murtala Muhammed was one of Nigeria's greatest leaders and will remain very highly regarded by the people.

MrNigeria.:
he was the best we have had up till now !

And this summary is from 6 months in office
Please tell us his achievements that makes him the best?

Nigeria's foreign policy under this great man was anti American. That's y they killed him.

He opposed them Aηδ they saw him as a threat τ̅☺ their continued imperialism in Africa.

The rest is history.

In as much as he is a military man , they must do something negative in this life. While he was in power, my father once told us he was a man who does not carry many escort and he once saw him in the bank while they were on a queue . People paved way for him to collect his money on time but he chose to remain in the queue . A man for the people.but as a military, he was not all for the people.

Murtala Ramat Muhammed (November 1938-February 1976)
Posted by: Hardball on February 13, 2013 in Hardball 21 Comments

Some 37 years ago Gen Murtala Ramat Muhammed was assassinated in a coup d’etat led by Col Bukar Sukar Dimka. He was barely 38 when he died. Right from the time his participation in the countercoup of July 1966 brought him to the fore of Nigeria’s often cataclysmic struggle for power at the age of 28, the intensely ambitious military officer never left the thick of military politics and leadership until assassins’ bullets stopped him on February 13, 1976, a little over six months after he seized power.[b] He was a man in a hurry who died in a hurry, in the prime of his life. [/b]Imagine what he could have done with power had he lived for a little longer, say, until he handed over power to an elected civilian government in 1979? Could the transition to civilian rule have proceeded the way his sanctimonious successor, General Olusegun Obasanjo, managed it? Indeed, in spite of his glaring weaknesses, particularly his riling and famous impetuousness, would he have handed over power to Alhaji Shehu Shagari, especially considering his highly publicised antipathy towards the gentle style of Gen Yakubu Gowon, his predecessor? These are indeed interesting areas of discourse historians and political scientists should engage themselves in.
But for our purpose today, let us simply remember the young officer who at 28 had the chutzpah to want to rule Nigeria consequent upon the success of the countercoup. In the event, and to his eternal dismay, the opportunity of ruling Nigeria went to another northern officer, the then Col Yakubu Gowon, perhaps because the scheming American and British advisers read him (Murtala) correctly and knew he was too hot-headed and opinionated to be amenable to their dictations. He proved the meddlesome duo right in 1976 when he took power and began the most intense domestic policy and external relations transformation the country had ever witnessed. Indeed he was at once so activist and populist that the undiscriminating intelligentsia of the day idolised him and the less finicky rabble to whom he had seemed to throw caviar were ecstatic.
[size=18pt]The love affair between the country and Murtala was so instant and so passionate that few paused to ask questions about the appropriateness or long-term impact of his radical policies. The nationalisation of the so-called commanding heights of the economy, the takeover of the very large newspapers of the day, the Daily Times and New Nigerian, and the appropriation of private and state schools unleashed such social devastation and developmental dislocations that the consequences are still being felt even today. And who can forget the tsunami he unleashed against the civil service, a catastrophe that the hitherto professionally-run institution has not recovered from?[/size]
Yet, it was clear that after many years of the Gowon government, and especially the casual manner he reneged on the original 1976 handover date, the country had sunk into such stultifying staleness that only a horse dose of adrenalin could have brought the country back to life. Murtala rode on that resuscitated crest for about six dizzying, unbelievable months. Would to God he had ridden more carefully, and dealt with antagonistic foreign powers more circumspectly. But there is no denying he is still regarded as one of Nigeria’s true heroes. He was detribalised, he was authentic, he was eager, he was extraordinarily bold, and he was a patriot who truly loved his country, even if many of his policies were misconceived and misplaced. Could anyone say the same of his successors, particularly the pretentious Obasanjo and the considerably insular and divisive President Goodluck Jonathan?

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/commentaries/hardball/murtala-ramat-muhammed-november-1938-february-1976/

I say good riddance to bad rubbish
Thank God he departed as soon as he came
his tyranny would have been worse that Abacha and IBB 's

ku ise.... admiring u...

@Op, you mean u wasted your time on this research for a well known murderer, a perpetrator of genocide, a killer of innocent women and children. You can celebrate him for all I care, but we know who he's and what he stood for. #BurnInHell #MurtalaMohammed.

he should not have dropped his original name. This is how we Hausas keep losing our Traditional names. He is Murtala Kurawa . not Murtala Muhammad.

THE BUTCHER OF ASABA. PITY THAT THE SAME PEOPLE HE LED TO MASSACRE INNOCENT EASTERNERS TURNED BACK TO KILL HIM IN A BOTCHED COUP ATTEMPT.