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The Legacies of Murtala Muhammad
By Garba Isa
The callous assassination of then Military Head of State of Nigeria, General Murtala Ramat Muhammad, happened 49 years ago, but still fresh in our memories. The Friday, 13 February 1976 failed coup which claimed the life of one of Nigeria's most dynamic leaders, was led by Bukar Suka Dimka.
Gen Murtala overthrew General Yakubu Gowon in 1975 citing corruption and a failed promise to return to civil rule by 1976. Murtala's short rule (1975-1976), set the stage for return to civil rule, evolved a new federal capital at Abuja, created seven new states (Niger, Bauchi, Gongola, Benue, Ogun, Imo and Bendel), purged the civil service of alleged corrupt elements and established Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) under the late Babatunde Jose.
Nigeria became Africa's leading nation in the fight against apartheid rule in South Africa which earned her the position of a frontline state even though geographically remote from the Southern Africa region. Imagine a post Murtala era irony; Nigeria is now patronising France, a country with nasty colonial antecedents and a persistent track record of working against the country both domestically as evident during the civil war (1967-1970) and within the ECOWAS subregion. The country under Murtala, led a successful OAU (now AU) diplomatic offensive on Angola even as a late foreign minister the late General Joseph Garba said at the time, Western countries' backed Angola's UNITA rebels of the late Jonath Savimbi, "were at the moment, within 9 miles (14 Kilometers) of Luanda" Murtala was replaced by his deputy, Gen Olusegun Obasan.
Murtala worked with the speed of a jet and strength of a bulldozer. He set up the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) and subsequent Constituent Assembly. Although the we adopted the American styled Presidential system, it was doubtful if the almost wholesome copy of the system would have seen the light of the day if Murtala were alive. Their transition to civil was concluded by his successor, General Obasanjo. Murtala's other pet project was the relocation of the federal capital from the then congested capital Lagos at the extreme coastal location in the Yoruba dominated South west. The new capital, Abuja was chosen for its central location in an area not dominated by any of the 3 major tribes. The new Federal Capital's location was recommended by a committee headed by a respected Yoruba personality, the late Justice Akinola Aguda. Those trying to undermine Abuja today by relocating some institutions are by implication, undermining national unity which the FCT symbolises.
During his 6-month short-lived revolution, Murtala purged the Civil Service of alleged corrupt elements by the standard of the time. Many permanent secretaries were shown the way out because in his vision, there was nothing 'permanent' in the position of officers involved in acts of impropriety. Murtala's stern diplomatic stance against America reached a climax when America's president at the time Gerald Ford, was reportedly told to "shut up" It was therefore not a surprise if the local conspirators of the abortive coup led by Dimka, which claimed his life, acted in cahoot with alleged powerful foreign elements.
Murtala was described by the labour and student movements as the "matyr of our revolution" Given the monumental achievements of General Murtala Muhammad, one wonders how far ahead the country would have forged had he ruled for a much longer period. But as the late civilian Governor of defunct Kaduna State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa said following his impeachment by the state Assembly, " it is not how long you served, but how honourably you did" The summary of Murtala regime's scorecard within the historic six months he served as Head of State were enthroning the Presidential system, the establishment of the Federal capital, Abuja, the creation of 7 new states, war on corruption and making Africa the Centrepiece of our dynamic foreign policy among others.
It is tragic that our current crop of leaders are less people oriented, less patriotic and divisive unlike the exemplary leadership of the late General. Add these to his heroic exploits to keep Nigeria one during our fateful civil war (1967-1970).It is doubtful if General Murtala would have dreamt of Nigeria with multiple security challenges, high inflation and a rising debt burden. May his blessed memory ginger a new set of patriotic leaders in Africa's most populous black nation and its most potential beacon of hope. |