General Murtala Muhammed's daughter reveals reason her father was assassinated

 

Aishat Oyebode (née Muhammed), the first child of the late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, who was assassinated just seven months after assuming office, reflected on the tragic event of February 13, 1976, in an interview with Daily Trust. She discussed the impact of her father’s death, which remains one of the darkest moments in Nigeria’s history, and shared plans for the 50th anniversary next year.

When she was told to give the motive behind her father's assassination, Aishat said that she was 12 years of age when her father was assassinated.

She said, "While I may not have had first-hand knowledge of all the details then, history and credible accounts suggest that his firm stance on governance and his drive to clean up corruption made him a target. Beyond that, his strong belief in Africa’s self-reliance and sovereignty, encapsulated in his famous ‘Africa has come of age’ speech, threatened foreign powers."

Further talking, she stated that her father’s strong opposition to apartheid and his firm commitment to Pan-Africanism were not well received by certain international groups and individuals. While there are various theories surrounding his assassination, she claimed that what remains indisputable is that her late father was a leader with a clear vision for a better Nigeria, and a stronger Africa—a vision that was tragically cut short.