Rembering the great Murtala Ramat

Remembering Late Gen. Murtala Muhammad

Murtala Ramat Muhammad born 8, November 1938 was assassinated by a group of coupists led by Lt. Col. Dimka Buka Suka, known as the 'Plateau boys' exactly 40 years ago. He was ambushed on his way to office in his Mercedes driving without any convoy or additional security. Murtala Muhammad took over power from Gen. Yakubu D. Gowon who also from Plateau origin in a bloodless coup on July 29th, 1975 while at a meeting in Kampala, Uganda after failing (again) to handover to the civilian as promised. During the Nigerian civil war Murtala was the GOC of the 2nd army division. He commanded a troop gallantly beating biaffrans soldiers down the mid-west to keep Nigeria one.

During his short rule there was a massive purge from the civil service, judiciary on account of incompetency, age, health, malpractices and other reason. And the forces, military officers over the ranks of Brigadiers were compulsory retired, many a lot demobilised. During this short spell, he brought states - owned universities and most large newspaper corporations under the federal government control, also created additional states. Murtala initiated the review of the 3rd national plan, the 79' constitution draft committee, and moving of the federal capital from a chocked Lagos to a less congested & centered Abuja.

Gen. Obasanjo (Late Gen. Murtala's chief of staff SMC) who was selected by the Military Council to take over after Ramat' death, executed the coup perpetrators (including members of the Supreme Military council) by a retro-active decree. He continued with most of the regime' plans: UBE schools were established. More universities built after the regional ones were taken over. During that period refineries were built, pipelines drawn, depots constructed and a lot of stations also. The Ajaokuta steel rolling was also developed at that time and an other one in Katsina. The green revolution for farmers 'Operation feed the nation' launched and the regime for the first time in Nigeria and a rare thing in Africa handed over to a civilian elected government of Shehu Aliyu Shagari.

At a time when lovers are celebrating Valentine day Murtala's wife received the news of her lover husband's death, she busted into tears. May his soul rest in peace.

Muhammad Malumfashi wrote this piece last year.