Obasanjo: Murtala Muhammed's Death Due to Naivety

In an interview with New Central TV, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo reflected on the assassination of former military ruler Murtala Muhammed, which occurred during a coup on February 13, 1976. Obasanjo attributed Muhammed's death to the naivety and complacency of the government regarding security measures.

He described Muhammed as a bold and confident leader who believed he was doing the right thing for Nigeria, which led to a false sense of security. Obasanjo noted that Muhammed's relaxed approach to personal security, including driving himself around Lagos without concern, ultimately exposed him to danger.

He warned that the leadership at the time wrongly assumed that there was no significant threat to their interests, which allowed conspirators to exploit the situation. This complacency contributed to the failure to anticipate the level of conspiracy that unfolded, culminating in Muhammed's assassination and the abrupt end of his government, which had promised sweeping reforms towards civilian rule.