From Coup to Assassination: How Murtala Muhammed’s Rejection of Power-Sharing, Bold Reforms, and Military Resentment Led to His Tragic End – Babangida Reveals
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, has revealed that the plot leading to the assassination of former Head of State, Major General Murtala Muhammed, on February 13, 1976, began the moment he assumed office in 1975. According to Babangida, Muhammed’s refusal to accept a power-sharing arrangement with Brigadiers Olusegun Obasanjo and Theophilus Danjuma created tensions that ultimately led to his downfall.
In his recently launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, Babangida recounts how Murtala Muhammed rejected a proposed triumvirate leadership structure following the coup that ousted General Yakubu Gowon. Despite expectations of a collective administration, Muhammed insisted on sole authority, a decision that fueled discontent among senior officers.
Babangida also reflected on Murtala’s rapid reforms, including the mass retirement of top military officers and civil servants, which won public support but left lasting impacts on Nigeria’s governance. He acknowledged that while the retirements targeted corruption, some decisions may have been excessive.
Additionally, he credited Muhammed with key national developments, including the plan for a return to civilian rule by 1979 and the decision to move the federal capital to Abuja. On foreign policy, Babangida noted Muhammed’s strong stance against colonialism, particularly in Angola, where he opposed U.S. interests by supporting the MPLA.
Despite his bold leadership, Murtala Muhammed’s rejection of power-sharing and sweeping reforms made him a target, culminating in his assassination just months after taking office.
Follow News Review on Facebook and X
