Politics

Nigeria lost momentum with the killing of Murtala -Buhari (photos)

Published

8 years ago

February 13, 2016

As the nation marked the 40th anniversary of the killing of former Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, President Muhammadu Buhari has paid glowing tribute the fallen General and his mother, adding that Murtala’s mother brought him up well.

The President, in his address at the memorial lecture to celebrate his death, said “General Murtala’s story has been told over and over again in the last forty years. So I will not repeat what has been related many times before. Suffice to say that his mother brought him up, and, through her efforts, paid expenses for his education and general welfare. In turn, Murtala repaid her by his exemplary performance in school, in military training, in war, in peace and in government.”

According to President Buhari, Nigeria’s lost its new found momentum with the killing of Murtala in a failed out d’etat on the 13 of February, 1976, adding that as Head of State in 1975, Murtala set out with a single-minded determination seldom seen in Nigerian leadership. “Decisions were on fast-track. Two major developments are prominent among his legacies: the move of the capital to Abuja from Lagos; and the creation of seven new States to make 19. The shadow of his death still somewhat hangs over Nigeria”.

Describing him as a man marked by extraordinary passion, energy and determination to do better, and to make Nigeria better, President Buhari said these are qualities Nigerians should remember and celebrate.

PRESIDENT BUHARI ATTENDS LATE MURTALA 4OTH MEMORIAL PIX A&B. President Muhammadu Buhari chats with the Wife of former Head of State, Late Gen Murtala Ramat Muhammed, Mrs Ajoke at the Murtala Muhammed 40th Memorial Lecture held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE/STATE HOUSE. FEB 13 2016.

PRESIDENT BUHARI ATTENDS LATE MURTALA 4OTH MEMORIAL 7. President Muhammadu Buhari (m) with him are Lt General T.Y Danjuma, by UN Special Envoy Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the Wife of former Head of State, Late Gen Murtala Ramat Muhammed, Mrs Ajoke, Daughtr Mrs Aisha Muhhamed Oyebode, Son Mr Risqua Muhammed at the Murtala Muhammed 40th Memorial Lecture held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE/STATE HOUSE. FEB 13 2016.

PRESIDENT BUHARI ATTENDS LATE MURTALA 4OTH MEMORIAL 6A&B. L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari, Daughter of late Head of State, Mrs Aisha Muhhamed Oyebode, Son Mr Risqua Muhammed and grand children at the Murtala Muhammed 40th Memorial Lecture held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE/STATE HOUSE. FEB 13 2016.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now