Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has spoken candidly about the assassination of former Head of State, Murtala Muhammed, describing the 1976 killing as a consequence of what he termed dangerous security complacency within the military leadership at the time.
Obasanjo, who succeeded Murtala following the failed coup of February 13, 1976, said the late leader’s death might not have occurred in the manner it did if stronger security measures had been in place.
Speaking during an interview on News Central TV, Obasanjo attributed the circumstances surrounding the assassination to “naivety” on the part of the government.
According to Obasanjo, Murtala was a bold and confident leader who firmly believed he was acting in Nigeria’s best interest and therefore saw little reason to fear threats to his life.
However, Obasanjo said that confidence translated into a relaxed approach to personal security that ultimately proved costly.
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He recalled that Murtala often moved around Lagos with minimal security and sometimes drove himself despite being the country’s military Head of State. Obasanjo said he had raised concerns about the risks associated with such exposure, but the warnings were not taken seriously.
“Murtala would not have been killed the way he was killed if not for our naivety,” Obasanjo said during the interview.
He explained that the leadership at the time operated under the assumption that their reform-driven agenda and patriotic intentions would shield them from internal threats.
“Our belief was that he was doing what was right. So what did we need to fear?” he added.
Obasanjo noted that the government underestimated the possibility of a coordinated conspiracy against Murtala’s administration. The relaxed security posture, he said, created vulnerabilities that were eventually exploited by the coup plotters.
Murtala was assassinated in Lagos during a failed coup attempt led by soldiers opposed to his regime. His death abruptly ended a government that had pledged sweeping reforms and a transition to civilian rule.
Following the assassination, Obasanjo assumed leadership and later oversaw Nigeria’s return to civilian governance in 1979.
Reflecting on the aftermath, Obasanjo described the incident as a painful but necessary lesson for Nigeria’s military leadership. He said it prompted a reassessment of how national leaders should be protected in a politically volatile environment.
He emphasized that courage and confidence in leadership must not be mistaken for carelessness, especially in a country where political rivalries and power struggles can escalate dangerously.
Obasanjo’s remarks have revived memories of one of Nigeria’s most dramatic political assassinations and reignited discussions about the delicate balance between maintaining public accessibility and ensuring adequate security for national leaders.