I was a student of Ibadan City Academy when Murtala Muhammed was killed–Ibadan Mogaji

Chief Mojeed Olabode Olaniran is the Mogaji of Ibikunle Abaa Royal Dynasty of Labiran, Ibadan. He is also a retired Comptroller of Prison and a brilliant public affair analyst. In this interview with TheTabloid.net, he recalls events surrounding the historic assasination of Nigeria’s Head of State, Lt General Murtala Muhammed 50 years ago precisely. Excerpts

How and where did you receive the news of Lt General Murtala Muhammed’s assasination?

February 13th 1976 was Friday, and exactly 50years ago, when the news of General Murtala Ramat Muhammad’s assassination rent the air consequent upon Col. Bukar Suka Dimka-led coup d’état. I was in secondary school at the Ibadan City Academy.

What were the effects of his death on you?

Prior to that incident in 1976, I had suffered education stagnation owing to Murtala Muhammad’s coup of 29th July 1975, which ousted General Yakubu Gowon. The 1975 coup met me in Owo, now in Ondo state while I was in secondary modern school under my elder brother Sergeant Jimoh Olaniran who had to send me back to Ibadan as he was posted to Zaria with nobody to keep me with than to send me back home. On getting to Ibadan, the crisis of continuing my education became apparent.

How much of the late General did you know before and after his death?

I know about how people were praising him as a reformer, and his popularity as head of state went beyondc national soil. Therefore, when the coupists struct and killed him, it was not only a national mourning and sadness but the whole African continent was shaken.

Fifty years after, what do you always remember of him among other heads of states?

Yoruba says, “igi tó bá tọ́ kìí pẹ́ nígbó”. That is just the summary of him.

If he had ruled beyond those six months, would he have emerged a hero or otherwise?

I believe he would have remained a hero if he had lived and ruled beyond six months, having started well to the acknowledgment of all and sundry.

Has Nigeria done enough in immortalising him?

I am aware that a polytechnic was named after him in Kano state, his home town, apart from the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos which is a good monument and standard legacy to bequeath on a leader like him. However, I would love to see the resuscitation of the Under 16 youths soccer tournament which was named after him but is no longer organised by the Youths Sports Federation of Nigeria. May his soul continue to rest in peace. Amen