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Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today - Politics - Nairaland

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Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by Dieumerci1: 11:45am On Nov 08, 2018
The Man: General Murtala Muhammed, GCFR

Nigeria's Former Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces



Murtala Ramat Muhammed was born on 8 November 1938 in the ancient city of Kano to Mallam Muhammadu Riskuwa and Malama Uwani Ramatu. His father was a visionary teacher, who saw the importance western education would play, With foresight, he ensured that his son had sound education. Murtala was educated at Kofar Kudu Primary School, Gidan Sarki Primary School and Gidan Makama Primary School all in Kano. From there he proceeded to Kano Middle School (now Rumfa College) Kano. It was from there that he gained admission into Government College (later known as Barewa College) Zaria, where he got his school certificate in 1957.
While in his third year at Government College Zaria, Kaduna, Murtala lost his dearly beloved father in 1953. Young Murtala weathers the storm and went on with determination to complete his secondary education with excellent results. With the completion of his secondary education, Murtala enlisted into the Nigerian Army in 1958.

He attended several courses outside the shores of Nigeria as an officer. Murtala trained at the Royal Military Academy in Teshi, Ghana, Sandhurst Military Academy, England, and School of Signals in Catterick, England. In Sandhurst, England, the Commandant adjudged him as “most intelligent cadet who has worked hard and well to produce an above average result. He is above average in leadership and organizing ability.”After his training, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1961 and assigned to the Nigerian Army Signals that same year. He served with the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo) as a Lieutenant upon his return to the country after an incisive training programme at Sandhurst, England. Upon his return from Democratic Republic of Congo, he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Administrator of the Western Region in Nigeria, where a State of Emergency had been declared. He became the officer-in-charge of the First Brigade Signal Troop in Kaduna, Nigeria in 1963. Apapa, Lagos.

By November 1965, he was made acting Chief of Signals of the Army and in January 1966, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was the inspector of signals in Lagos. He played a prominent role in the Nigerian civil war, where he led the newly established 2nd Infantry Division for which he was made the first General Officer Commanding in August 1967. In March 1968, he was redeployed to Lagos and was appointed Inspector of Signals. In April 1968 he was promoted a Colonel.

He proceeded to the Joint Service Staff College in England in 1970 and returned in 1971 and in same year was promoted to Brigadier-General in October 1971 after the war. By 7th August 1974, he was appointed by the Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon as the new Federal Commissioner for Communications, which he combined with his military duties as Inspector of Signals at the Army Signals Headquarters in Apapa, Lagos. Following the coup against General Gowon, Murtala Muhammed was appointed as the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 July 1975 and was promoted a General in January 1976 with effect from July 1975.

Some Legacies of Murtala Muhammed included:

o The creation of seven more states
o Movement of the Federal Capital from Lagos to the present Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, a more central part of the country.
o The drafting of a new constitution
o Played a prominent role in ending apartheid in South Africa
o Liberation of African countries like Angola and Zimbabwe
o The organisation of states and national elections as prelude to a return to democratic rule on 1st October 1979

Murtala Muhammed Role in Ending Apartheid in South Africa and Liberation of Other African Nations
The government of General Murtala Muhammed played a prominent role in the direction of Nigeria’s foreign policy. He made his government’s stance known on apartheid in South Africa, the conflict in Angola and the parlous state that Africa found itself post-independence. General Murtala thus brought Africa’s most populous and one of its richest nations out of its erstwhile vacillating approach to African and foreign issues to play a more active role. Guided by pragmatism, this energetic feature of Nigeria’s diplomacy has continued even after the death of Murtala Muhammed.


Without General Murtala Muhammed, the eventual liberation of Angola, Zimbabwe, and South Africa would not have been achieved when it was. Murtala Muhammed laid the foundation, set the ball rolling and threw down the gauntlet to all those that supported tyranny and apartheid in the nations of southern Africa.

His extraordinary and dynamic foreign policy vis a vis the total liberation of our brother African nations and his unrelenting opposition and resistance to apartheid in South Africa and Rhodesia (as it was then) continued under the able leadership of his second in command, General Olusegun Obasanjo after he took over as Head of State on February 14th, 1976.

His administration has been characterised as a watershed in Nigeria’s history and his astute handling of state affairs seen as a standard in Leadership.

His wife, a Yoruba woman (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. He proposed to her and they got married in Kaduna in 1963 after her studies with the union producing 6 children.
Murtala Muhammed was assassinated on February 13, 1976 in an abortive coup en route his office at Dodan Barracks Lagos.

Murtala in his service to the nation received several awards namely Forces Service Star (FSS)Forces Service Star (Nigeria), General Service Medal (GSM) General Service Medal (Nigeria), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), National Service Medal (NSM) National Service Medal (Nigeria), Republic Medal (RM).

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Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by Forreellinc: 11:46am On Nov 08, 2018
Donkey boy
Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by haladadon: 11:54am On Nov 08, 2018
This is the only northerner that practised one Nigeria. his projects are still alive till now.

14 Likes 1 Share

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by Kennedy94(m): 12:32pm On Nov 08, 2018
rip
Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by AnalQueenluci: 1:20pm On Nov 08, 2018
mass killer of asaba pple...

25 Likes 3 Shares

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by kolafolabi(m): 1:21pm On Nov 08, 2018
The best Head of State we never enjoyed.. Continue to R.I.P Sir.

10 Likes 1 Share

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by Boom33(m): 1:22pm On Nov 08, 2018
...

4 Likes

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by Realfitbody: 1:22pm On Nov 08, 2018
Wait a minute

Who is Murtala MOhammed again....
Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by SaAbbas(m): 1:22pm On Nov 08, 2018
Forreellinc:
Donkey boy

You just defined yourself

RIJF General Murtala Muhammed, GCFR

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Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by Jamiubond009(m): 1:22pm On Nov 08, 2018
Asaba massacre comes to mind angry. Make I sip my cold Heineken jare

12 Likes 1 Share

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by BruncleZuma: 1:22pm On Nov 08, 2018
grin grin grin grin

This guy ruffled so many feathers that they had to butcher him ...one day one day Naija go better.

"My fellow Nigerians..." was started by him as a speech opener.

8 Likes 1 Share

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by pawpzman: 1:23pm On Nov 08, 2018
Karma sent Dimka to send the ASABA genocider, coupist to hell. Nigga got served.

23 Likes 3 Shares

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by Bitchiamjay(m): 1:23pm On Nov 08, 2018
Murtala Mohammed is widely regarded by many as the best head of state that ever ruled Nigeria .

such beautiful and quiet soul was executed by Dimka .


#YOlO

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Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by Racoon(m): 1:23pm On Nov 08, 2018
The role this creepy killer played in the July 28-29 1966 counter coup in Ikeja Cantoment and the inglorious "Asaba Massacre" will forever hunt him.He came into limelight by the gun and also left in a hail of bullets.

13 Likes 1 Share

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by MyVILLAGEpeople(m): 1:25pm On Nov 08, 2018
haladadon:
This is the only northerner that practised one Nigeria. his projects are still alive till now.

seems u don't know history.

Have u read or heard about Asaba massacre of October 7 1967??

18 Likes 1 Share

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by Datdeltagirl(f): 1:26pm On Nov 08, 2018
Happy posthumous birthday to him shey he isn't angry the way Nigeria has gone to shit

1 Like

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by Victorperez(m): 1:26pm On Nov 08, 2018
what a great man...u will always be remembered

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Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by madridsta007(m): 1:27pm On Nov 08, 2018
The Butcher of Asaba people. Chief of Massacre.

His genocidal past must be told when his story is said, at the very least for posterity's sake.

"As the civil-war commenced, Murtala Muhammed entered the war in the Midwest campaign where he robbed the Central Bank in Benin, and began his litany of war crimes. Federal forces under his command unleashed a massacre of Ibos in Benin city and environs, however Asaba became the legendary centre were Murtala Muhammed set a record of war crimes. In a rain of blood, tens of thousands of innocent youths, some of them just 6 years old were lined up on the streets of Asaba and executed in cold blood on the direct orders of Murtala Muhammed. The Asaba massacre was the first of its kind in Africa and remains one of the bloodiest to date in the history of the African continent. As a further testimony to the bloodlust and depravity demonstrated by Murtala Muhammed and his forces, few kilometres away in Onitsha, another barbaric massacre was unleashed in the Apostolic Church where over 300 civilians, devout Christians including women and children who had stayed back and continued in their prayers after the fall of Onitsha were brutally murdered in cold blood."

https://asaba.com/remember-murtala-muhammed-the-cowardly-butcher-of-asaba/

https://punchng.com/asaba-massacre-seeking-healing-50-years-after/

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Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by Racoon(m): 1:29pm On Nov 08, 2018
haladadon:
This is the only northerner that practised one Nigeria.His projects are still alive till now.
When were you born? angry "One Nigeria" only means when the core north is in charge of leadership.

4 Likes

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by Nobody: 1:32pm On Nov 08, 2018
Most ppl that partook in biafran massacre did not end up well....murtala was riddled with bullets...awolowo took cheap adulterated otapiapia...gowon...God left him to see with his own eyes how fulani will murder his people and descecrate his ancestral lands with his people blood....ty danjuma is crying same fate as gowon...benue people cant even go to farm with peace of mind....the whole north is littered with idp camps..with starving children.and almajiri poverty.and boko haram plague...people dying in 100s every week

13 Likes 1 Share

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by edo3(m): 1:33pm On Nov 08, 2018
Ok
Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by sacajawea: 1:33pm On Nov 08, 2018
Muri na Bastard

1 Like

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by classikbill(m): 1:33pm On Nov 08, 2018
This is a pure definition of excellence, he achieved all this at a very young age. Gone are the days when everything is available for a serious minded Nigerian to excel.. No matter how serious or intelligent you are now, the system keeps on dragging the youth backward. NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE

2 Likes

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by gentleibraheem(m): 1:35pm On Nov 08, 2018
A very great man
May his soul rest in peace

1 Like

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by revolt(m): 1:42pm On Nov 08, 2018
haladadon:
This is the only northerner that practised one Nigeria. his projects are still alive till now.
are u mad?!!! Please go and read history. ..you kids just talk without facts.

2 Likes

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by revolt(m): 1:42pm On Nov 08, 2018
Murtala is the only Nigerian leader that got a deserving death. The most blood thirsty Nigerian leader ...ironically he was benin.

12 Likes

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by dokyOloye: 1:43pm On Nov 08, 2018
Mass murderer.
Rot in hell.
B4 you quote me to say nonsense,Google Asaba massacre .
Its on Wikipedia sef.

7 Likes

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by bigpicture001: 1:43pm On Nov 08, 2018
kolafolabi:
The best Head of State we never enjoyed.. Continue to R.I.P Sir.
...which best...? someone that hijacked a full loaded persenger,plane nd executed a quarter of its persengers...someone that constantly disobeys military order.....OBJ is naija's best leader ever!!!!!!!!!

4 Likes

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by bigpicture001: 1:44pm On Nov 08, 2018
Bitchiamjay:
Murtala Mohammed is widely regarded by many as the best head of state that ever ruled Nigeria .

such beautiful and quiet soul was executed by Dimka .


#YOlO
...I was saying this same thing u just said till I read about him....

1 Like

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by Auxtin85(m): 1:46pm On Nov 08, 2018
Just wondering what the dullard, Fulani cow president will be remembered for
Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by stanluiz(m): 1:46pm On Nov 08, 2018
Never forgets asaba massacre.
Rest in pieces murtala Mohammed.

Thank you dimka for sending that genocidist to rot and decompose in his smelly grave.

8 Likes

Re: Murtala Muhammed's 80th Posthumous Birthday Is Today by bigpicture001: 1:47pm On Nov 08, 2018
classikbill:
This is a pure definition of excellence, he achieved all this at a very young age. Gone are the days when everything is available for a serious minded Nigerian to excel.. No matter how serious or intelligent you are now, the system keeps on dragging the youth backward. NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE
...read ur history and stop hailling an idiotic tyrant!!!!

6 Likes

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