The Institutionalization Of The Military In Nigerian Politics: Murtala Mohammed Regime

 

 1975 Coup

  On 29th July 1975, General Yakubu Gowon was overthrown while attending the 12th summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in Kampala, Uganda. After his overthrow the second in charge Murtala Mohammed took over as the new military Head of State, Brig.Obasanjo and Brig.T.Y.Danjuma were appointed Chief of Staff and Chief of Army Staff respectively.

  Administration

 Mohammed was a highly respected member of the Nigerian Army who, as a federalist regretted the first coup that overthrew civilian government in Jan 1966, he was the mastermind of the counter-coup and was temporarily in charge until Gowon his superior took over. In 1975 he overthrew Gowon in a bloodless coup and took over. Murtala Mohammed had a charismatic authority and cult of personality, he ruled with more power than any Nigerian leader before or after him. Also his regime developed from an authoritarian regime to a consensus with Obasanjo and T.Y. Danjuma taking part in decision making, this softened dictatorship and Mohammed also started setting up plans for a return to civilian rule.

  It was in his regime that the phrase "fellow Nigerians" (which he used in his first speech) was introduced, considering the advent of the three year Civil War, this shows Mohammed's patriotic nature. He was also famous for another phrase "with immediate effect", a phrase which illustrates Mohammed's decisiveness and no nonsense attitude, a trait which immediately made him a folk hero. During his reign over 10,000 civil servants lost their jobs(though most left without benefits), most reasons were age, health, incompetence or malpractice, a few civil servants were also punished and tried for corruption. On February 3 1975, Mohammed's government created 7 new states namely, Bauchi, Benue, Bornu, Imo, Niger, Ogun and Ondo. He also made preparations to move the Federal Capital Territory to Abuja in the Middle Belts due to Lagos been overcrowded.

 Death

  His reign was characterized by economic prosperity which greatly improved the quality of life in Nigeria. Murtala Mohammed was the only Nigerian leader who moved around in his official vehicle without shutting down federal roads, but this also proved to be fatal to him. On 13 February 1976, General Mohammed set out for work along his usual route on George street, shortly after 8 a.m his Mercedes Benz travelled slowly along with the Lagos traffic, near the Federal Secretariat at Ikoyi, a group of traitorous soldiers led by Lt.Col.Buka Simka Dimka ambushed him and taking advantage of the Lagos traffic, shot him in his car, he was killed alongside his A.D.C who carried a pistol the only weopon in Murtala's car.

  Dimka was arrested and executed on 15th May 1976, at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos, Gen.Gowon was also stripped off his military rank for allegedly being involved in the failed coup. Olusegun Obasanjo succeeded him as Head of State, after two years he carried on with Murtala's plan of transition into civilian rule which saw Shehu Shagari on 1st October 1979, become Nigeria's first Executive President in a newly established Federal System of Government.