Personality in Focus
Murtala Mohammed: Remembering Originator of ‘Fellow Nigerians’ 47 Years After
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By Eric Elezuo
He is noted as the first person to use the popular military catch phrase ‘fellow Nigerians’, and popularised it among subsequent leaders, who had used it at all coup situations. He is Murtala Ramat Muhammad GCFR, Nigeria’s third military Head of State, who was murdered in cold blood on February 13, 1976, less than eight months after he took over administration.
Born on November 8, 1938, Mohammed is believed to have led the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup in overthrowing the Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi military regime and featured prominently during the Nigerian Civil War and thereafter ruled over Nigeria from 30 July 1975 until his assassination on that fateful February 13, 1976 morning.
He was in Kano, into a ruling-class religious family, Murtala served in the Nigerian Army as a cadet in the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He later served in Congo; eventually rose through the ranks to become brigadier general in 1971, aged 33, becoming one of the youngest generals in Nigeria. Three years later Murtala became the Federal Commissioner for Communications in Lagos. As a conservative and federalist, Murtala regretted the overthrow of the First Republic and the promulgation of Aguiyi Ironsi’s unification decree of 1966. He was devastated by the assassination of Sir Ahmadu Bello, and for a time seriously considered the secession of Northern Nigeria. His career redoubled after Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and the young majors orchestrated the first military coup in Nigeria of 1966 coup empowering him to lead the mutiny of the night of 29 July 1966 in Abeokuta. Murtala was briefly considered as Supreme Commander before the appointment of Yakubu Gowon. He also masterminded the July 1966 counter coup, which evidently, sparked the Nigerian Civil War.
During the war, he commandeered Nigeria’s second infantry division which was responsible for the death of civilians and much of the rebels. His command’s use of veteran soldiers, no quarter, and scorched earth strategies led to between 10,000 and 30,000 deaths. Combined with the total wartime death toll of three million making the civil war one of the deadliest in modern history. Three years later the Federal military government declared victory which bolstered Murtala’s image over Nigeria and in particular the north as a military leader through the post-war era of “reconciliation, reconstruction, and rehabilitation”. In post-civil-war Nigeria, Murtala ruled with more power than any Nigerian leader before or since, and developed a charismatic authority and cult of personality. During the Cold War he maintained Nigerian neutrality through participation in the non-aligned movement but supported the Soviet Union — during the latter’s effort in the Angolan Civil War
Nigeria under Murtala presided over a period of rampant economic prosperity. At the same time, his regime transitioned from being authoritarian into consensus decision-making with Murtala the leader of a military triumvirate, alongside Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and Theophilus Danjuma. The dictatorship softened and Murtala unveiled plans for the demilitarization of politics. In 1976 barely seven months into his nascent rule Murtala without having time to see his plans implemented was assassinated in a failed coup d’ètat attempt, being succeeded by Olusegun Obasanjo as Head of State, who, in turn, led the Nigerian transition to democracy with the Second Nigerian Republic.
The legacy of Murtala in Nigerian history remains controversial as the nature of his rule changed over time. His reign was marked by both brutal repression, and economic prosperity, which greatly improved the quality of life in Nigeria. His dictatorial style proved highly adaptable, which enabled wide-sweeping social and economic reform, while consistent pursuits during his reign centered on highly centralised government, authoritarianism, federalism, national Federalism, and pan-Africanism.
Murtala Muhammed was born on November 8, 1938 in Kano. His father, Muhammed Riskuwa, was from the Fulani Genawa clan, who had a history of Islamic jurisprudence as both his paternal grandfather Suleman and paternal great-grandfather Mohammed Zangi served as Chief Judges in Kano Emirate and held the title of chief Alkali of Kano. His father worked in the Kano Native Authority and was related to Aminu Kano, Inuwa Wada, and Aminu Wali. He died in 1953, his mother, Uwani Rahamatu, was from the Kanuri and Fulani Jobawa clan, the Jobawa clan members include the Makama of Kano and Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, his maternal grandfather Yakubu Soja a World War I veteran was from Dawakin Tofa while his maternal grandmother Hajiya Hauwau (Aya) was from Gezawa, he was educated at Cikin Gida Elementary School which was inside the emir’s palace.
He then transferred to Gidan Makama primary school in Kano which was just outside the palace. He then proceeded to Kano Middle School (now Rumfa College, Kano) in 1949, before attending the famous Government College (now Barewa College) in Zaria, where he obtained his school certificate in 1957. At Barewa College, Muhammed was a member of the Cadet Corps and was captain of shooting in his final year. In 1957, he obtained a school leaving certificate and applied to join the Nigerian army later in the year.
Murtala Muhammed joined the Nigerian Army in 1958. He spent short training stints in Nigeria and Ghana and then was trained as an officer cadet at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in England. After his training, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1961 and assigned to the Nigerian Army Signals that same year, later spending a short stint with the No. 3 Brigade Signals Troop in Congo In 1962, Muhammed was appointed aide-de-camp to M. A. Majekodunmi, the federally-appointed administrator of the Western Region.
In 1963, he became the officer-in-charge of the First Brigade Signal Troop in Kaduna, Nigeria. That year he traveled to the Royal Corps of Signals at Catterick Garrison, England for a course on advanced telecommunications techniques. On his return to Nigeria in 1964, he was promoted to major and appointed officer-commanding, 1st Signal Squadron in Apapa, Lagos. In November 1965, he was made acting Chief of Signals of the Army, while his paternal uncle, Inuwa Wada had recently been appointed Defense Minister.
Mohammed’s coup in 1966 led to the installation of Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon as Supreme Commander of the Nigerian Armed Forces, despite the intransigence of Muhammed who wanted the role of Supreme Commander for himself. However, as Gowon was militarily his senior, and finding a lack of support from the British and American advisors, he caved in. Gowon rewarded him by confirming his ranking (he had been an acting Lt. Colonel until then) and his appointment (Inspector of Signals).
In June 1968, he relinquished his commanding position and was posted to Lagos and appointed Inspector of Signals. In April 1968, he was promoted to colonel. The actions of the division during this period, mostly in Asaba became a subject of speculation. In a book published in 2017, S. Elizabeth Bird and Fraser Ottanelli document the 1967 mass murder of civilians by troops of the 2 Division under General Muhammed’s command. They also discuss the events leading up to the massacre, and its impact on Asaba and on the progress of the war, as well as other civilian massacres carried out by soldiers of the 2nd Division at Onitsha and Isheagu.
Between 1970 and 1971, he attended the Joint Service Staff College in England, his supervisor’s report attributed him to having ”a quick agile mind, considerable ability and common sense. He holds strong views which he puts forward in a forthright manner. He is a strong character and determined. However, he finds it difficult to moderate his opinions and finds it difficult to enter into debate with others whose views he may not share”.After the war, he was promoted to brigadier-general in October 1971. Between 1971 and 1974, Muhammed was involved in routine activities within the signals unit of the army. However, he also disagreed with some of the policies being pursued by Gowon.
On 7 August 1974, the head of state, General Yakubu Gowon appointed him as the new Federal Commissioner for Communications, which he combined with his military duties as Inspector of Signals at the Army Signals Headquarters in Apapa, Lagos. On 7 August 1974, General Yakubu Gowon appointed Muhammed as the Federal commissioner (position now called Minister) for communications to oversee and facilitate the nation’s development of cost effective communication infrastructures during the oil boom. After the war and after he took power as head of state, Muhammed started the reorganization and demobilization of 100,000 troops from the armed forces. The number of troops in the armed forces decreased from 250,000 to 150,000.
On 29 July 1975, General Yakubu Gowon was overthrown while attending the 12th summit of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in Kampala, Uganda. Muhammed took power as the new Military Head of State. Brigadiers Obasanjo (later Lt. General) and Danjuma (later Lt. General) were appointed as Chief of Staff, Supreme HQ and Chief of Army Staff, respectively.
In the coup d’état that brought him to power he introduced the phrases “Fellow Nigerians” and “with immediate effect” to the national lexicon. In a short time, Murtala Muhammed’s policies won him broad popular support, and his decisiveness elevated him to the status of a folk hero.
However his highly popular, often televised “with immediate effect” style of governing, also gained some criticism amongst the countries top civil servants – some of which were Nigeria’s top intellectuals. His ad-hoc Presidential proclamations left his civil service often unprepared, lacking details or even funding to implement his ideas, and his administration led to the dismissal of thousands of civil servants. Over 10,000 civil servants, government employees were dismissed without benefits; reasons stated were age, health, incompetence, or malpractice. The removal of such a large amount of public officials affected the public service, the judiciary, the police and armed forces, the diplomatic service, public corporations, and university officials. Quite a few officials were tried on corruption charges, and an ex-military state governor was executed for gross office misconduct.
Muhammed took federal control of the country’s two largest newspapers – Daily Times and New Nigerian; all media in Nigeria was now under federal control. He also took federal control of the remaining state-run universities. On February 3, 1976, the Military Government of Murtala Muhammed created new states and renamed others, the states he created include: Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Imo, Niger, Ogun, and Ondo. This brought the total number of states in Nigeria to nineteen in 1976.
As head of state, Muhammed put in place plans to build a new Federal Capital Territory due to Lagos being overcrowded. He set up a panel headed by Justice Akinola Aguda, which chose the Abuja area as the new capital ahead of other proposed locations. On February 3, 1976, Muhammed announced that the Federal Capital would in the future move to a federal territory location of about 8,000 square kilometres in the central part of the country.
Towards the end of 1975, the administration implemented a mass purge in the Nigerian civil service. The civil service was viewed as undisciplined and lacking a sense of purpose. A retrenchment exercise was implemented as part of a strategy to refocus the service.
Source: Wikipedia
Yomi Duroladipo, popularly known as Arole Asa and Oba, is stepping into a new phase of leadership in Nigeria’s entertainment industry as Governor of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Oyo State chapter. The son of legendary Yoruba theatre icon, Chief Duro Ladipo, Yomi brings a rich cultural heritage, years of experience in the performing arts and a vision to reposition the association for greater relevance.
Born into a family deeply rooted in Yoruba culture and traditional theatre, Yomi grew up surrounded by the performing arts. His father, the legendary Chief Duro Ladipo, popularly known as Sango, was one of the most celebrated figures in Yoruba theatre, while his mother is popularly identified with the cultural identities of Oya and Moremi Ajansoro.
For Yomi, inheriting such a distinguished family name is both a privilege and a responsibility. He acknowledges that maintaining his father’s legacy requires discipline, caution and a conscious commitment to upholding the values associated with the name.
However, rather than rely solely on his father’s reputation, he has worked towards establishing his own identity in the entertainment industry.
His distinctive appearance in traditional Yoruba attire and his trademark cap have become part of his personal brand. He has also developed a unique performance style by blending Western musical instruments with traditional Yoruba instruments, creating a fusion that distinguishes him from other cultural entertainers.
His passion for entertainment dates back to childhood, when he developed an interest in bringing people together through music, dance, drama and creative performances. His acting talent began taking shape during his primary school days, when he represented his school in a stage performance for the late educationist and founder of Mayflower School, Tai Solarin, in Ikenne, Ogun State.
That early exposure further strengthened his passion for the creative industry and eventually inspired him to establish Yomi Duroladipo Arts and Entertainment Company, popularly known as Y.DAD Entertainment.
Although he studied Mechanical Engineering, Yomi has built a career across different areas of entertainment. He is an actor, musician, dancer, stage director and movie director. He also plays the saxophone, which he creatively combines with traditional Yoruba drums during cultural performances.
His artistic philosophy revolves around creativity, innovation and the preservation of Yoruba cultural heritage, particularly through the fusion of traditional and contemporary entertainment.
Having been exposed to theatre and filmmaking from birth, Yomi describes his journey as a lifelong commitment to the arts, marked by continuous learning, experience and the desire to contribute to the development of the entertainment industry.
His emergence as Governor of TAMPAN Oyo State signals a new chapter in his professional journey, shifting part of his attention from individual artistic achievements to institutional leadership and the development of fellow practitioners.
TAMPAN, the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, is one of the major professional associations representing practitioners in Nigeria’s theatre and motion picture industry.
Yomi believes that the association requires renewed commitment to institutional development, structural reforms and improved opportunities for its members.
His administration is expected to focus on upgrading, reformation, rebuilding and transforming the Oyo State chapter.
Talent discovery and development will also form a major part of his agenda, with plans to identify emerging talents, encourage young practitioners and create opportunities for creative professionals to showcase their abilities.
Beyond these priorities, Oba ASA vision is to strengthen the association, promote professionalism, improve its relevance and establish a more productive environment for members to thrive.
For a man born into the legacy of one of Yoruba theatre’s greatest icons, the new responsibility presents another opportunity to demonstrate that preserving a great heritage is not only about celebrating the achievements of the past but also building institutions and creating opportunities for the next generation.
As Yomi Duroladipo begins this new chapter as Governor of TAMPAN Oyo State, expectations are high that his cultural background, creative experience and leadership ambitions will translate into meaningful reforms and a renewed direction for the association.
Today is one of those days children of the next generation will remember because a great man was born on October 25, 1964. Today, I choose to celebrate a great man, grandfather, father, uncle, friend, and mentor who has been an inspiration and blessing to my life.
I would like to begin by saying a belated happy birthday to Dr. Joe Abah, though I wished him happy birthday on X on his birthday. To me, this is my little sacrifice to show him how I revere him.
During my formative years, I would have said “happy belated birthday”; that’s simply because I haven’t met Dr. Joe, the technical teacher. That word “Happy Belated birthday” is grammatically wrong.
As an intentional man, let me say this: I have many mentors, and each of them plays a unique role in my life. One of the endearing unique qualities of Dr. Joe is his unique selflessness.
A sage once said, ” The joy of life is not how happy one can be but how happy one can be because of you. Dr. Joe, please bear with me; I will do my best to make this article a little bit personal. One might be wondering why I am writing about Dr. Joe like I have known him for ages; well, the answer is not far-fetched: life is not about quantity, but quality. I don’t have to know someone for a decade or more to put my thoughts together about them. One encounter can change a lot, and that’s exactly what Dr. Joe has done.
A little background information about how I randomly got to know Dr. Joe Abah. I met with Dr. Joe on X (formerly Twitter), and we connected on a social media platform, and I was attracted to his posts. His posts usually come across as intellectually stimulating, nourishing, and entertaining. On X, he is known as Ezemmuo (King of the Spirits). Some people call him the oracle and mouthpiece of the gods because of his uncanny and clairvoyant way of predicting the future, and most of the time, his predictions are 90% true.
My friendship and relationship began to grow when in April 2021 requesting his followers to give him a reason why they would like to partake in a Leadership training to celebrate his friend, Benjamin Akande. When I saw this tweet, I reluctantly applied and forgot about it. I was surprised that after about a week or two weeks, I was selected. Not only did he select me, but he also followed me on X. That, to me, was the beginning of our friendship.
I was able to nurture this friendship, and today, we have grown to the extent that he has invited me for lunch. Our bond strengthened when I reached out to him to write the foreword to my foreword for my third book and he was gracious to not only write the foreword but endorse the manuscript as “excellently written” after he must have read the manuscript.
Dr. Joe has many endearing qualities that attracted me to him, but none stood out for me like his humility, tolerance, and wisdom. Here is a man who has achieved success by any standard one can measure, depending on the rubric one chooses to measure success.
As a matter of fact, it was his humility that made me reach out to him to write the foreword to my third book, “The Six Pillars of Success. Before I reached out to him, I took my time to read every available piece of information I could find about him online, especially since I’m writing a book that is personal to me because I figured out I must have a name that resonates with the six pillars of success: (Purpose and personal Development, Career and vocational excellence, financial independence and freedom, Health and wellbeing, Healthy family and social relationships, and Spirituality and Inner Grounding).
If you know Dr. Joe, you’ll agree with me that he matches all these pillars. It’s instructive to note that before I published the book, some of my friends advised me to use some of the big names I know, and I asked them, ” What’s the definition of a big name? It was at that moment I understood the mindset and maturity of some people. How do you rate a human being just because he has “questionable money” or has attained a political position through fraudulent or illegal means? I have always believed that if the only thing one has is money, that person is poor.
As a very intentional person, I’m very particular with the people I associate and relate closely with; I always asked myself what kind of life would I want to live, what kind of life do I want my children and humanity to remember me for? These and many more are what led me to revere Dr. Joe as a revered mentor.
Permit me to share some of the distinguishing traits of Dr. Joe. He’s an academic scholar. He has occasionally used this knowledge, wisdom and understanding to educate everyone on his platform, especially men, this singular act made me coin a nickname for his “KING OF THE BOYS” due to his uncanny way of speaking. He has also continually stated that he doesn’t advise women on X, and he doesn’t like politics nor engage in it. No wonder he has been taunted as Ezemmuo
Dr. Joe is blessed with a rational temperament. Despite the detractors and sophisticated level of jealousy on X, he has managed to control his emotions in a country where many people would have lost it. The level of criticism I see against him online makes me ask: what sin has Dr. Joe committed? There is nothing I found except that he has truly discovered himself, developed himself, and evolved in such a way his detractors couldn’t imagine.
Dr. Joe is a fitness enthusiast; remember I said earlier, Dr. Joe perfectly fits into an ideal man whose personality radiates more with books. Occasionally, Dr. Joe organizes Fit September on X to keep fit. That exercise has literally helped many people. On a personal note, I have grown six-pack abs, broad shoulders, and big arms all because of my intentional exercise. As a matter of fact, I have not missed a single day of exercise. Here are two excerpts from Dr. Joe in my box: “According to Dr. Joe Abaha, a governance expert, “I try to do 3 exercises daily: 1. Exercise my body for at least 30 minutes every day. 2. Exercise my brain by reading at least a page of non-fiction every day. 3. Exercise my spirit by praying every day”.
Finally, not least, Dr. Joe is an extremely humble man. His simplicity is so endearing and charming to the heart. It was through Dr. Joe that I learnt that the higher you go, the humbler one should become. Despite the height he has attained in life, he still condescends to the level of a teenager just to communicate the desired message.
I can go on, but as the sage will say, a word is enough for the wise.
Sir, as you celebrate your new age, I pray that whatever has not worked in your life will manifest and be accomplished this year. Amen.
Remain blessed for being a blessing.
Professor Kamene Okonjo, a renowned sociologist, women’s rights advocate and mother of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has passed on at the age of 96.
Okonjo, who was also the matriarch of the Umu Obi Obahai Royal Family of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom in Delta State, died on Friday.
Her death was announced on Sunday in a statement issued by the Palace Secretary of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, on behalf of the royal family.
The late professor was the wife of the immediate past traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku, Obi (Professor) Chukwuka Okonjo, with whom she was married for 66 years.
She was also the mother of the reigning monarch, Obi (Dr.) Ifechukwude Anishi Okonjo II, and WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The royal family described her death as a significant loss to the kingdom, citing her contributions to academic scholarship, women’s rights and social development.
An internationally recognised sociologist, Okonjo devoted much of her professional life to academic research and advocacy for women’s empowerment, earning recognition within and beyond Nigeria.
“An internationally recognised and foremost sociologist, Professor Kamene Okonjo distinguished herself through her outstanding academic accomplishments, intellectual contributions and lifelong advocacy for women’s rights and empowerment,” the statement said.
The family noted that her influence extended beyond academia, particularly through her commitment to advancing opportunities for women and promoting education.
It also acknowledged her role within the traditional institution of Ogwashi-Uku, where she remained an influential member of the royal household.
Beyond her academic career, Okonjo was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whose family ties spanned several generations.
“While we mourn her passing, we celebrate a life exceptionally well lived,” the royal family stated.
The statement extended condolences to the reigning monarch, Okonjo-Iweala and other surviving children, including Dr. Njideka Okonjo-Udochi, Prince Onyema Okonjo and Prince Chichi Okonjo.
It also acknowledged the deceased’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other members of the extended royal family.
The family urged residents of Ogwashi-Uku to honour her memory and reflect on her contributions to scholarship, women’s advancement and the community.
Details of her funeral arrangements were not disclosed in the statement.
