By Mahmoud Muhammad Kano
Aisha Muhammed, daughter of former Nigerian Head of State General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, has shared that her father’s simple lifestyle and rejection of excessive security played a significant role in his assassination.
General Muhammed, who came to power in a bloodless coup in July 1975, was killed barely six months later on February 13, 1976, during an abortive coup.
Aisha explained that her father deliberately avoided motorcades, sirens, and heavy security, choosing instead to live like an ordinary Nigerian. On the day of his assassination, he was traveling in traffic like everyone else when the coup plotters struck.
General Muhammed’s leadership style was centered around accountability, responsibility, and discipline. He viewed corruption as a “cankerworm” that would destroy society and lived by example, demonstrating integrity in both public and private life. During his brief 200-day tenure, he implemented significant reforms, including dismissing over 10,000 public officials accused of corruption, creating seven new states, and initiating plans for Nigeria’s transition to civilian rule.
Would you like to know more about General Murtala Muhammed’s reforms or his impact on Nigerian politics?
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