President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that the late head of state Murtala Mohammed earned his respect and liking both as a soldier and leader of the country because he was on the path of bringing corruption and indiscipline to an end in Nigeria before his assassination in the military coup of February 13, 1976.
Buhari made the disclosure during the 40th memorial lecture of the late head of state, organised by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation in Abuja.
The President described Mohammed as a great personality who made huge sacrifices for the unity and progress of the country, adding, “Nigeria suffered a grievous blow with the assassination of Murtala Mohammed in the failed coup d’état.
“The country mourned, and rightly so, because Murtala had been on his way to putting Nigeria back on the path of order and discipline, after years of drift, corruption and near-despair.”
According to the President, “It would not be over-stating the case to say that Nigeria lost its new-found momentum with Murtala’s demise. Although he was much more senior to me in the army, I developed a great liking and respect for him on account of his professional excellence, competence, straightforwardness and genuine interest and concern for up-and-coming officers like myself. Of course, no one is without flaws.”
President Buhari recalled that the former head of state was a man in a hurry, which sometimes made him appear abrupt or even moody, adding that what he could not tolerate was incompetence and idleness.
Recalling the gallant role the late head of state played in enforcing the unity of the country, President Buhari noted, “By the time Murtala was given command during the civil war, the federal side was on the defensive. The rebels had over-ran the then Mid-West, and reached as far as Ore, just 100 miles from Lagos.
“By dint of sheer bravery, improvisation and resourcefulness, he mustered a rag-tag group of soldiers, integrated them into an entirely new division, knocked them into fighting shape, recovered Mid-West and ventured across the Niger. Alas, there were terrible casualties on both sides.”
The President noted with pains that the losses from Muhammed’s death are still present in today’s Nigeria, saying that the late head of state’s short life was marked by an extraordinary passion, energy and determination to do the right things, and to make Nigeria better. These, according to Buhari, are values that young and old alike should all remember, emulate and celebrate.
Former minister of Defence, Lt-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, who is the vice-president of the Board of Trustees of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation said he was happy to be associated with the late head of state, early in life.
Danjuma applauded the efforts of the Foundation and advised its leadership to embark on aggressive media campaign with a view to educating members of the public on its activities and achievements so far.
United Nations Secretary-General, Ban ki Moon’s representative and head of the UN Office for West Africa (UNOWA), Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, who also doubled as the representative of former president of Namibia, Lucas Pohamba, pointed out that the death of the former head of state left an indelible mark in African history.
He extolled the virtues of the former head of state, describing him as a natural leader.
Former chief of defence staff of the British Armed Forces David Richards, who was the guest speaker, stated that inter-state and intra-state rivalries had continued to make the world unstable for mankind. Richards, who spoke on the topic, “Regional Security and State Building: Portents and prospects”, challenged leaders to find lasting solutions to socio-political crises across the world.
On her part, Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, Chief Executive Officer of the Murtala Mohammed Foundation, and daughter of the late head of state, hailed President Buhari for his anti-graft war.
Muhammed-Oyebode also commended the efforts of the administration towards ending insurgency in the North-east and expressed the hope that the abducted Chibok schoolgirls would soon be rescued.
-Leadership
