Today marks the 47 Years Anniversary of the loss of a great Nigerian Leader – General Murtala Ramat Muhammad.
He became Nigeria’s Head of State following a bloodless coup detat that ousted the General Yakubu Gowon’s Regime in July1975 after the Nation was observed to be drifting towards terrible situation.
The death of General Murtala since February 13th 1976, has reversed the trend of Nation’s socio-economic development as Murtala’s vision and mission for greater Nigeria has not been realised due to citizens’ uncooperative attitude, mobid desire for illegal wealth acquisition – as propensity for materialism blind-folds the corrupt ones among us to condemn every steps taken by patriotic Nigerian Leaders to return the Nation to sanity and socio-economic emancipation.
These were the assertion made by the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria today in its Tribute to Late General Murtala Muhammad who was killed while going to his office in Dodan Barracks Lagos on Friday 13th day of February, 1976,
In the Tribute signed by the National Coordinator of the Group Alh. Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Muslim Body enumerated the achievements of Murtala which include designing a new Nation’s Capital for Nigeria, holistic fight against corruption, restoring discipline in public service and Nation’s sphere of life and creation of New States to promote sense of belonging to mention just a few.
The Group regretted that several achievements of his Administration especially fight against corruption were reversed after Murtala’s exit; especially with the political evolution of 1979, corruption started rearing its ugly head again which forced Buhari-Idiagbon Regime to take-over the Military Government.
The 18 months of Buhari-Idiagbon Regime which was later overthrown by the Major-General Babangida, the Group said later opened the flood-gate for corruption which we are battling with till today,
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria therefore called on all Nigerians especially the elites to reflect on this historical background and resolve to chart a new course to make Nigeria great in the true sense as envisaged by General Murtala Muhammad and all patriotic Nigerians.
The new leadership that would emerge from the forthcoming elections the Group stated, must resolve to holistically fight corruption by evolving stringent laws that would deny bail for serious corrupt cases, abolish Plea Bargaining that has encouraged corruption and purnish offenders seriously,
The greatest honour and respect citizens could give to Late General Murtala and all departed good Leaders of this Country is to rule with fear of Allah by changing our political system from illegal wealth acquisition to welfarist system that would serve citizens instead of individuals as it is presently, the Release concluded.
Signed
Ibrahim Abdullahi, FCIPM
National Coordinator,
Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG)
13th February, 2023 / 22nd Rajab, 1444
