Forty two years without Murtala

As young and highly impressionable early secondary school students we were unhappy on the morning of July 25, 1975 when we heard Colonel Joseph Garba’s broadcast announcing the overthrow of General Yakubu Gowon. The amiable and easy-going Gowon was loved by Nigerian students. Our mood however changed as General Murtala Mohammed’s regime unfolded. Nigerian students wildly loved Murtala Mohammed for his stern posture and for turning everything from corrupt domestic governance to foreign policy upside down.

Early in the afternoon on Saturday, February 14, 1976 we crowded around the radio and heard a senior army officer saying, “The Supreme Military Council announces with the deepest regret the death of His Excellency the Head of the Federal Military Government, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Murtala Mohammed.” Everyone around burst into tears. That evening new Head of State Lt. General Obasanjo said in his broadcast, “The late Head of State was shot yesterday on his way to the office. His ADC, Lt Akinfehinwa, his orderly and driver who were with him in the car were also killed.”

Murtala Mohammed ruled Nigeria for only 200 days but they were the most action-filled, most dynamic, probably the most impactful six months in Nigeria’s history. Those six months spewed more quotable quotes than any other in our history and as students, we learnt our toughest and sternest words from Murtala. Murtala, as Nigerians called him, almost never smiled; he spoke forcefully and always used the sternest words. Unlike other soldiers, Murtala did not tuck his army jacket in his trousers. He let it hang loose over the trousers and then tightened both with a large belt. His army cap extended well over his face and mostly covered his eyes, enhancing his menacing posture. The man who was known in his Barewa College, Zaria days as Murtala Kurawa was announced by Radio Nigeria on July 29, 1975 as “the new Head of State Brigadier Murtala Rufa’i Mohamed.” Days later, Supreme Headquarters announced that he had changed his name to Murtala Ramat Mohamed, inserting his mother’s name in the middle, a most unusual practice in Nigeria.

In his very first national broadcast on July 30, 1975 Murtala began his reign with sternly bombastic language. He ended his speech by saying, “This government will not tolerate indiscipline. This government will not condone abuse of office.” Over the next six months many more phrases entered the national vocabulary such as “with immediate effect,” “sacked,”  “booted out,” “deadwoods” etc. On the day he created new states Murtala said, “This is a onetime operation and future agitations on this matter will not be tolerated.” Even as people were celebrating their new states Murtala said, “This government will not tolerate any threat to law and order. Neither will the government condone any emotional outbursts or provocative demonstration or celebration by any individual or group in support or against the creation of states in any part of the country.” Phew!

In his very first broadcast Murtala shocked us no end by cancelling the 1973 census, postponing FESTAC, retiring every military officer above the rank of Brigadier and dissolving the North’s Interim Common Services Agency [ICSA] as well as the East’s Eastern States Interim Assets and Liabilities Agency, ESIALA. He later followed up by taking over Ahmadu Bello University [ABU] and New Nigerian Newspapers from ICSA, as well as 60% of the privately owned Daily Times.

The Murtala era is probably most remembered for The Great Purge. Thousands of federal and state civil servants as well as workers in major corporations such as Nigeria Airways, Nigeria Railways, NEPA, Nigeria Ports Authority, P&T, foreign service, universities, police, Customs, Immigration and the armed forces were compulsorily retired and in some cases dismissed for reasons including inefficiency, corruption and abuse of office. The Army’s retirement list was headed by Col Anthony Aboki Ochefu, Military Governor of East Central State and it included the Chief Imam of the Army and the Chief Chaplain of the Army. Almost no day passed without a screaming newspaper headline announcing that so and so agency had “booted out” dozens or hundreds of workers. In later years, old Nigerian civil servants almost unanimously claim that Murtala’s purge enhanced rather than combated corruption in the civil service because it destroyed civil servants’ tenure security. That’s the claim.

Agitation for state creation had reached a crescendo in the late Gowon era and Murtala appointed a committee headed by Justice Ayo Irikife which advised the Supreme Military Council on the matter. On February 3, 1976 Murtala created seven new states namely Niger, Bauchi, Gongola, Benue, Ogun, Ondo and Imo. He also renamed North Central to Kaduna State, Mid-Western to Bendel State and South Eastern to Cross River State. In the late Gowon era there was also a lot of national discussion about the need to relocate the Federal capital from Lagos, which was highly congested with its notorious go-slow traffic. In September 1975 Murtala appointed a panel headed by Justice Akinola Aguda. In his February 3, 1976 speech he announced the relocation of the Federal capital, saying the new site was chosen because of its “centrality, low population density, adequate water supply, land availability and use, physical planning convenience, security and multiple access possibilities.” He also added that the new location does not fall within the territory of any of the three major ethnic groups.

Murtala was at his bombastic best when he announced the confiscation of assets of former rulers. He said, “Suffice it to say that of all the former military governors and the Administrator, East Central State, with the exception of two, were found to have grossly abused their offices and were guilty of several irregular practices. Those of them who wore uniforms betrayed the ethics of their professions and they are a disgrace to those professions. They should be ashamed of themselves. They are therefore dismissed with ignominy and with immediate effect.”

Murtala firmly set the stage for the return to democratic rule. at a time when most of Africa was governed by sit-tight soldiers and civilian dictators, Murtala set up the Constitution Drafting Committee [CDC] led by Chief Rotimi Williams that drafted the 1979 Constitution. Murtala also suggested to CDC to consider adopting the American-style presidential system, which came to pass.

African nationalists and old Communists like yours sincerely best remember Murtala Mohammed for his role on Angola. Portugal’s colonial rule in Angola collapsed after 500 years but a civil war erupted between the three major liberation movements namely FNLA led by Holden Roberto, UNITA led by Jonas Savimbi and the left-wing MPLA led by Agustinho Neto.  While Cuba and the Soviet Union supported MPLA, Mobutu Sese Seko, the CIA and South Africa’s apartheid regime supported FNLA and UNITA. Nigeria initially supported OAU’s position calling for a government of national unity. As we learnt later, it was the Inspector General of Police MD Yusuf who brought the great Africanist historian Basil Davidson to see Obasanjo and Murtala and to explain the Angolan situation. Murtala then called External Affairs Minister Colonel Joseph Garba, told him to disregard the pledge given to OAU and to immediately recognise MPLA. It was the biggest bombshell and the most courageous foreign policy act ever in Nigeria’s history.

Daily Trust