Murtala’s Revolution: 30 Years After

By  

Garba A. Isa

yekuwa@yahoo.com

 

 

This year which mark the 30th anniversary of the brutal assassination of General Murtala Muhammad has the added significance of equally marking the 30th anniversary of the new federal capital city of Abuja. The city is one of the most important land mark features of Murtala’s 7-month administration. The other was the the process of handing over power from military dictatorship to an elected democratic government.  Although General Murtala did not live to personally handover power to a civilian president in 1979, his name will continue to be printed   in Gold in the annals of history as the first Nigerian leader to evolve an honest process of handover of power to the civilians.  Beneath Murtala’s stern military personality was a deep commitment to democracy and the rule of Law.

 

It is ironic though that Murtala’s former deputy and later successor, General Olusegun Obasanjo, who honoured the promised handover in 1979, is today at the centre of an alleged plot to truncate the constitutional process of a smooth transition. This so-called Third term Agenda of President  Obasanjo if it turns out to be true, will be a great disservice to the country by one of the heroes of the country’s  brutal civil war (1967-1970) and a dishonour to the late General Murtala Muhammad 30 years  after his death. The Murtala Muhammad Foundation (MMF) which is anchoring some elaborate events to mark the 30th anniversary of Murtala’s death was spear headed by President Obasanjo and his estranged Vice, Atiku Abubakar some 4 years ago most probably to promote  among others, democratic ideals not dictatorship. People, who claim to be the “off-shoots” of General Murtala Muhammad, must be men and women of their own words. Murtala’s honour, sense of responsibility, dynamism and integrity     were virtues well earned, not bought at the Market Place. In 1975 when  he became Nigeria’s 3rd Military Head of State, General Muhammad immediately set to work with a clear vision for the nation.

 

No Nigerian leader has positively impacted on the political landscape of the nation within such a brief tenure of only seven months (July 1975 – February 1976) as did the late General Murtala Ramat Muhammad.  Murtala came to power on July 27, 1975 following the overthrow of the General Yakubu Gowon’s administration after nine years as the head of state.  He was assassinated in a coup attempt on Friday 13, 1976, led by Lt. Col. Bukar Suka Dimka who was later convicted by a military tribunal and executed.

 

When he died 30 years ago, the Kano-born General who hailed from Kurmawa Quarters of the city, left behind among others, his mother Hajiya Ramatu, his uncle the Magajin Gari of Kano, Alh. Inuwa Wada, his widow Ajoke Muhammad and some 7 children.

 

 

General Murtala Muhammad came to power with a clear vision: wiping out corruption and decadence and to chart an independent course for the Nation politically, economically, legally and diplomatically among others.  No wonder though, this “Fine soldier and a positive temperament”, was gunned down in a broad day light on the fateful Friday of February 13, 1976.  Murtala worked with the speed of a jet and the strength of a bulldozer to give  the nation a sense of direction and became a national hero; a character trait which began to build during the Civil War.

The Late head of State created seven additional states, which saw the number rising from the original 12 created by General Yakubu Gowon to 19.  The States created are Niger, Bauchi, Gongola, Benue, Ogun, Imo and Bendel.  Many years after Murtala, States creation is still a very popular exercise, with seemingly unending demands.

 

The creation of the new Federal Capital at Abuja in 1975 stands as one of the most far-reaching achievements of his administration.  The Justice Akintola Aguda panel set up to examine the desirability of locating a new Federal Capital away from the over crowded and decaying Lagos, recommended Abuja because of its central location and conducive environment for living.  Abuja is also located in an area not inhabited or dominated by any of the three major tribal groups in the country; Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.  No wonder Abuja is described as the “symbol of Unity”.   Murtala’s successor as head of State General Olusegun Obasanjo continued with the process of transfer of the Federal Capital after General Murtala’s death. It was former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida who eventually moved the Federal Presidency to Abuja in December, 1991.

Murtala’s transition to civil rule programme was executed with a great sense of vigour and determination with Nigerians of integrity and belief in the rule of law and good governance, as the principal actors. Murtala set up the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) headed by the late Justice Rotimi Williams.  The work of the committee led to the setting up of the Constituent Assembly (CA), which among others, recommended the presidential system of government for the nation’s second Republic (1979 – 1983).

 

Murtala’s successor, General Olusegun Obasanjo kept faith with the transition programme culminating in the handover of power to a civilian president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari on October 1, 1979.This is one feat for which one must doff his hat for Obasanjo although he is allegedly on the self-destructive path of shattering that record.

 

Murtala Muhammad, set up the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) under Alhaji Babatunde Jose.  The setting up of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPIC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), by President Obasanjo may be in that spirit particularly if charges of hidden political agenda and selective justice against the Ribadu-led EFCC for instance, turn out to be unrealistic..

 

Murtala’s role as regards ridding the Federal Civil Service of bad eggs was one of his most controversial decisions.  His “Wind of change” and the boundless war against corruption for instance, blew away many hitherto so-called “Super permanent secretaries”. In the style of administration envisaged by General Muhammad, no post was permanent so long as one was caught neck-deep in the act of corruption or mediocrity.

 

The Murtala-Obasanjo regime was the first to introduce “austerity measures” into the style of governance in the recent history of our nation.  The government for instant discarded the use of flashy Mercedes’ cars and promoted the use of Peugeot cars by Government officials. In the world of flambouyant leaders, Murtala brought simplicity instead.  It was due to his people-oriented style and honesty that he chose to drive the streets of the then Federal capital Lagos, without the usual “water tight” security; It was what was exploited by Dimka-led group. Those who carried out the heinous assassination of Murtala, were simply national renegades at the cheap service of the nation’s enemies.   The Murtala – Obasanjo regime was so credible and popular the successive military regimes in the country credit themselves as the “off-shoots” of that regime.

 

The absence of General Muhammad is particulary felt when one casts back his mind to the era of his nostalgic dynamic foreign policy for Nigeria. The gradual drift of Nigeria into the club of debtor nations in the post Murtala years, were some of the reasons why the nation is somewhat derailed from the Independent foreign policy direction of those years.

 

The dynamic nature of Murtala’s foreign policy was well known.  His almost single handed stance on the Angolan Independence crisis in 1975 is historic.  With other liberation movements notably UNITA of Jonal Savimbi supported by the imperialists powers as USA, Portugal and the then Apartheid-ruled South Africa, Murtala threw his weight behind the radical MPLA of Agustino Neto even as the late Federal Commissioner for External Affairs, major General Joseph Garba stated “while UNITA backed by the South Africans, were at the moment, within nine-miles of Luanda”. Murtala’s Angolan investment was worthwhile as Nigeria succeeded in leading an OAU diplomatic offensive on Angola, against the imperial wishes of America’s former president Gerald Ford.  In fact former secretary of state Henry Kissing was denied entry into Nigeria on the Angolan issue as Nigeria felt “Africa has come of Age” and thus America was told to “shut up”. It is ironic that General Victor Malu was fighting a lone battle the other time, to prevent the mortgaging of the country’s Military to the Americans The Americans were brought in against patriotic and professional advise by  the government President Obasanjo  under the guise of coaching our military,  peace keeping  operations, an area they excelled far better than the Yankees.

 

Murtala Muhammad encouraged cordial relationship with Africa, third world and Arab countries of the Middle East and identified with the Palestinian struggle.  He went on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia to further cement spiritual and diplomatic ties with the kingdom.  Nigeria intensified the campaign against Apartheid in South Africa through both the OAU and the activities of the frontline states such as Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola and Zambia.  Murtala’s successor, General Olusegun Obasanjo later set up the South Africa Relief Fund (SARF) to channel resources to the liberation movements such as the Namibia’s SWAPO and ANC of South Africa. The best way to immortalize  Murtala Muhammad, is through the actualization of his dynamic ideals and examples not mere ceremonies and lip service. We should emulate the good deeds of the late icon and improve upon them.  The long-term survival of our democracy which the late General laboured to realize depends largely upon how well we tackle the issue of corruption and the thorny “National Question”.  Murtala Muhammad brought within only seven months, the sense of honest service and devotion at home and a high profile image for Nigeria on the international scene. The greatest tribute to the late General is for all patriotic Nigerians to strive to achieve a just, fair and genuinely democratic nation in which no group feels alienated. The wrong time to threaten Constitutional order, National unity and stability, is when we mark the 30th anniversary of General Murtala, our national hero and matyr who gave his life to keep the nation united.

 

Garba A. Isa

Yekuwa Communications, Kano