By Bolu Oyeyemi
Aisha Muhammed, the daughter of former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, says her father’s simple lifestyle and refusal to embrace heavy security made him vulnerable to assassination.
Speaking on a television programme as Nigeria marked 50 years since his death, the Chief Executive Officer of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation said the late leader practised the values he preached, especially accountability, discipline and anti-corruption.
According to her, General Muhammed rejected motorcades, sirens and large security details, choosing instead to live like an ordinary Nigerian.
She explained that on the day he was killed, February 13, 1976, he was travelling in traffic like other road users when coup plotters attacked and shot him during an attempted coup.
General Muhammed came to power in July 1975 and, within his short tenure of about 200 days, introduced major reforms, including the dismissal of thousands of public officials, creation of new states and steps toward returning the country to civilian rule.
He also began the process that led to the relocation of Nigeria’s capital from Lagos to Abuja.
