Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), has shed light on the assassination of Major General Murtala Muhammed, revealing that his refusal to embrace a power-sharing arrangement after the 1975 coup led to internal discontent among senior officers. In his autobiography, A Journey in Service, Babangida disclosed that Murtala’s insistence on absolute authority created tension within the military, culminating in the tragic events of February 13, 1976. He recounted a pivotal meeting at Dodan Barracks where younger senior officers proposed a collective leadership structure, but Murtala’s resounding rejection sealed his fate.
Murtala wasted no time in consolidating power, swiftly implementing one of Nigeria’s most radical military purges. Top officers, including Vice-Admiral Joseph Wey and Major-General David Ejoor, were retired, while Brigadiers Olusegun Obasanjo and Theophilus Danjuma took key positions. Babangida admitted that the sweeping civil service dismissals of 1975, which aimed to eliminate corruption, may have been excessive, leaving a lasting impact on Nigeria’s governance. Meanwhile, Murtala’s bold foreign policy, particularly his defiance of Western powers in support of Angola’s MPLA, further cemented his legacy as a fearless leader.
Despite his vision for rapid state creation and a transition to civilian rule, Murtala’s uncompromising stance made him a target. Just six months into power, he was assassinated in a failed coup led by Lt-Col Buka Suka Dimka. Babangida’s revelations offer a gripping insight into a pivotal chapter in Nigeria’s history, underscoring the fine line between resolute leadership and political peril.