Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said former Head of State Murtala Muhammed may not have been killed if security had been handled differently at the time.
Mr Obasanjo spoke in an interview on News Central TV, where he linked the assassination to what he described as weak attention to security within government after the 13 February 1976 coup.
He said Murtala Muhammed moved around without strong protection and often drove himself while in office. According to him, this reflected a belief that he had no personal threat because he was serving the country.
He said he had advised him on security, but the advice was not fully acted on.
“Murtala would not have been killed the way he was killed if not for our naivety,” he said.
Obasanjo said the leadership at the time did not expect a coordinated attack against the Head of State.
“Our belief was that he was doing what was right. So what did we need to fear?” he said.
He said the gap in security created room for those behind the coup attempt to act.
Murtala Muhammed was killed in Lagos during an abortive coup by soldiers opposed to his government.
Earlier in February, his daughter Aisha Muhammed, also spoke on the circumstances surrounding his death.
Speaking on Arise News’ Morning Show to mark 50 years since the incident, she said her father’s lifestyle made him vulnerable to attack.
She said he avoided motorcades, sirens and heavy security and moved around like ordinary citizens.
“If you know, my father didn’t go around with motorcades and sirens and a lot of security,” she said.
Aisha said he was in traffic on the day of the coup when he was attacked.
“He was in traffic just like everybody else… and that was when the coup plotters came out and he was shot,” she said.
She said his leadership was based on accountability and discipline, and that he viewed corruption as a major problem.
Murtala Muhammed came to power in July 1975 after a coup that removed General Yakubu Gowon. He was killed about six months later.
