In a shocking revelation, former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has disclosed the events that led to the tragic assassination of General Murtala Muhammed on February 13, 1976. According to Babangida, Muhammed’s refusal to accept a triumvirate power-sharing arrangement after seizing power in 1975 set the stage for the conspiracy that led to his death.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
After the coup that removed General Yakubu Gowon in 1975, a group of young officers, including Babangida, expected Muhammed to run a ‘collective’ government alongside Brigadiers Olusegun Obasanjo and Theophilus Danjuma. However, Muhammed rejected this proposal outright, insisting on ruling independently.¹
Muhammed’s leadership style and policies also created enemies among the military and civil service. His mass retirement of senior military officers and top civil servants, including Vice-Admiral Joseph Wey and Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo, created widespread discontent among affected officers and civil servants.
The growing resentment culminated in the bloody coup of February 13, 1976, led by Lt. Col. Buka Suka Dimka. The coup plotters ambushed Murtala’s convoy in Lagos, gunning him down in broad daylight. Babangida acknowledged that Muhammed’s popularity was undeniable, but the country is yet to fully recover from the consequences of his mass dismissals.
In his newly launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, Babangida provides a detailed account of the events leading up to Muhammed’s assassination. The book offers a unique insight into the complexities of Nigerian politics and the military’s role in shaping the country’s history.
Muhammed’s legacy continues to be felt in Nigeria, with many remembering his decisive leadership and bold vision for the country. However, the consequences of his actions, including the mass dismissals, remain a topic of debate among historians and political analysts.