34 Facts About Murtala Muhammed

Murtala Ramat Muhammed was a Nigerian military officer and the fourth head of state of Nigeria.

Murtala Muhammed led the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup in overthrowing the military regime of Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi and featured prominently during the Nigerian Civil War and thereafter ruled Nigeria from 29 July 1975 until his assassination on 13 February 1976.

Murtala Muhammed later served in Congo; eventually rose through the ranks to become brigadier general in 1971, aged 33, becoming one of the youngest generals in Nigeria.

Three years later, Murtala Muhammed became the Federal Commissioner for Communications in Lagos.

Murtala Muhammed was devastated by the assassination of Sir Ahmadu Bello, and for a time seriously considered the secession of Northern Nigeria.

Murtala Muhammed's career redoubled after Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and the young majors orchestrated the first military coup in Nigeria of 1966 empowering him to lead the mutiny of the night of 29 July 1966 in Abeokuta.

Murtala Muhammed was briefly considered as Supreme Commander before the appointment of Yakubu Gowon.

In post-civil-war Nigeria, Murtala Muhammed ruled with more power than any Nigerian leader before or since and developed a charismatic authority and cult of personality.

The dictatorship softened and Murtala Muhammed unveiled plans for the demilitarization of politics.

In 1976, barely seven months into his nascent rule Murtala Muhammed without having time to see his plans implemented was assassinated in a failed coup d'etat, being succeeded by Olusegun Obasanjo as Head of State, who, in turn, led the Nigerian transition to democracy with the Second Nigerian Republic.

Murtala Muhammed's reign was marked by both brutal repression, and economic prosperity, which greatly improved the quality of life in Nigeria.

Murtala's father, Muhammed Riskuwa, was from the Fulani Genawa clan which has a history of knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence, as both his paternal grandfather Suleman and paternal great-grandfather were judges.

Murtala Muhammed's father worked in the Kano Native Authority and was related to Aminu Kano, Inuwa Wada, and Aminu Wali.

Murtala Muhammed died in 1953, his mother, Uwani Rahamatu, was from the Kanuri and Fulani Jobawa clan, the Jobawa clan members include the Makama of Kano and Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, his maternal grandfather Yakubu Soja a World War I veteran was from Dawakin Tofa while his maternal grandmother Hajiya Hauwau was from Gezawa, he was educated at Cikin Gida Elementary School which was inside the emir's palace.

Murtala Muhammed then transferred to Gidan Makama primary school in Kano which was just outside the palace.

Murtala Muhammed then proceeded to Kano Middle School in 1949, before attending the famous Government College in Zaria, where he obtained his school certificate in 1957.

At Barewa College, Murtala Muhammed was a member of the Cadet Corps and was captain of shooting in his final year.

Murtala Muhammed spent short training stints in Nigeria and Ghana and then was trained as an officer cadet at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in England.

In 1962, Muhammed was appointed aide-de-camp to M A Majekodunmi, the federally-appointed administrator of the Western Region.

Unknown to Murtala Muhammed, majors planning the January 1966 coup recruited troops from the signal unit.

Murtala Muhammed was appointed member of a Post and Telecommunications management committee.

Murtala Muhammed opposed the regime of Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, which took power after a coup d'etat on 15 January 1966.

The counter-coup led to the installation of Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon as Supreme Commander of the Nigerian Armed Forces, despite the intransigence of Murtala Muhammed who wanted the role of Supreme Commander for himself.

At the start of the Nigerian Civil War, Murtala Muhammed was the commander of the newly established 2nd Infantry Division.

Murtala Muhammed holds strong views which he puts forward in a forthright manner.

Between 1971 and 1974, Murtala Muhammed was involved in routine activities within the signals unit of the army.

Murtala Muhammed took power as the new military Head of State.

Murtala Muhammed took federal control of the remaining state-run universities.

On February 3,1976, the Military Government of Murtala Muhammed created new states and renamed others, the states he created include: Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Imo, Niger, Ogun, and Ondo.

Murtala Muhammed set up a panel headed by Justice Akinola Aguda, which chose the Abuja area as the new capital ahead of other proposed locations.

On 3 February 1976, Murtala 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.

On 13 February 1976, General Murtala Muhammed set off for work along his usual route on George Street.

Murtala Muhammed was assassinated, aged 37, along with his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa, and his driver, Sergeant Adamu Michika, in his black Mercedes on 13 February 1976.

Abba Murtala Muhammed was a Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on privatisation.