Nigeria: Murtala Muhammed - Remembering a Gallant Soldier, 38 Years After

14 February 2014
opinion

The late Gen Murtala Ramat Muhammed was born in Kano on November 8, 1938 and attended Barewa College, Zaria. He was commissioned into the Nigerian army as a second lieutenant in 1961. Prior to his appointment, he attended the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in England. He played a role in the July 1966 counter-coup and he fought in the Nigerian Civil War.

Muhammed came to power on July 29, 1975 after the overthrow of General Gowon's government (Gowon was head of state for nine years). Unfortunately, he was president for only 199 days (from July 29, 1975 to February 13, 1976). As head of state, Muhammed lived in the house he owned as director of the Army Signal Corps. He didn't use sirens or convoys and drove daily to his office at the Dodan Barracks, Lagos.

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