Agenda Nigeria Marks Muritala Mohammed’s 50th Anniversary, Describes Him As One Of Nigeria’s Most Visionary Leaders

A group known as Agenda Nigeria has described late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed as unarguably one of Nigeria’s most visionary leaders, who upheld the integrity of the military institution and left behind a giant footprint of transformative leadership.

The group made this known in a statement issued on Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed.

Recall that Muhammed, Nigeria’s Head of State from July 1975 until his 1976 death, was known for sweeping reforms, state creation, anti-corruption measures, and advancing the transition to civilian rule.

The group also said that Mohammed’s courage, discipline, and clarity of vision, despite his brief 201-day administration, secured his place among Nigeria’s most distinguished leaders, and he continues to inspire Africa 50 years after his assassination.

They highlighted Muhammed’s commitment to Africa’s emancipation, recalling Nigeria’s frontline role in liberation movements across Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Guinea-Bissau, and in the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa.

The statement further reads: “We, the undersigned citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, wish to join other compatriots in marking the 50th commemorative Anniversary of the assassination of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, which falls on February 13th, 2026.

“The late Head of State, uncompromising nationalist, incorruptable statesman and brave soldier was murdered along with his Aide de Camp (ADC), Lt. Col. Akinfenwa, and his driver on that fateful Friday as he was been driven to his office in Dodan Barracks, Ikoyi, Lagos.

“It could be remembered that the General’s car had slowed down at a pedestrian zebra crossing out of respect for civil servant trooping to the former Federal Secretariat for work when his sponsored assailants struck. General Murtala Ramat Mohammed was unarguably one of Nigeria’s most visionary leaders in the mould of General Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt who both upheld the integrity of the military institution in their respective countries and left behind giant footprints of transformative leadership.

“The legacies of General Murtala in his short but memorable tenure was indeed legendary. He bequeathed unpresidented and examplary leadership courage by purging the Nigerian civil service system of corruption and corrupt public officers, created new states, initiated the process that gave Nigeria its first indigenous and enduring Federal constitution, and founded the new Federal Capital Rerritory, Abuja.

“He provided Africa with authentic leadership based on the dignity of the black race, spearheaded a vigorous struggle for the independence of the rest of Africa from the stranglehold of oppressive colonial rule while inspiring African youth to take their destiny into their hands.

“No wonder, he was killed barely one month after his famous speech,”Africa Has Come of Age” at the African Union Headquarters Adis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 11th January,1976 The list of impactful achievements of the General brief leadership is endless. Sadly, we hasten to observe that there has been a steady nose-dive in the quality of governance and a deficit in leadership integrity since the progressive leadership of General Mohammed.

“The consequences in the aftermath of the backward trend in the evolution of Nigeria’s leadership trajectory include a dangerous revert to heightened tribal and sectional politics, disunity and fragmentation, unconscionable and shameful elite-driven corruption, Lawlessness, insecurity and threats of disintegration among other vulnerabilities.

“Tragically, Nigeria’s successive governments have continued to mortigaged the country’s honour and glory for which we stood tall and respected among the comity of nations. Presently, in a fast-changing world order where Might is Right, the peace and stabilising responsibilities of the United Nation’s System,

“Continental and Regional Organisations have been deliberately undermined by powerful nations, we are afraid that Nigeria’s sovereignty and independence are been diluted and rendered meaningless.

“On the occasion of the 50th anniversary since the conspiratorial and cowardly murder of this Africa’s uncommon hero and Nigeria’s patriots therefore, Nigerians have no option but to rekindle and deepened the search for selfless purposeful leadership capable of pulling Nigeria back from the brink of doom and collective regret.

“The Ramat ideology is the answer to our diversity and nationhood challenges in the face of the new scramble for our resources by the powers that be. ”

It was signed by Malam Mahmud Othman, Hajiya Azumi Bebeji, Hajiya Aisha Ismail, Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed, Muhammed Sani Zorro, Salisu Nuhu Mohammed, Najeem Jimoh, Naseer Kura Jafar, Abdulkadir Ibrahim Ahmad, Prof. Muhammadu Mustafa Gwadabe, Malam Isa Ahmed,Mni, Ado Yahuza, Mohammed Tsaibu, Bello Dantata, PhD, Balarabe Garba, Ali Maje, Senator Shehu Sani, Salihu Lukman, Prof. Hamza Abba, Abdulkadir Bala Madigawa, Hon. (Barr.) Nasiru Ibrahim Junju Esq., Ado Yusuf Dawakiji, PhD, Nasir Abbas, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Hussaini Abdu,PhD, Chris Igene, PhD, Bala Baba Shu’aibu, Bashir Umar, and Maikudi Abubakar Zukogi.