Know your history, then, may be then you would be able to see who your enemy is.On the 3rd of January 1976, the American Ambassador to Nigeria ,Mr. Donald Easum, brought a letter addressed to the Nigerian Head of State from the United States President Gerald Ford. The same letter was sent to many African leaders.Murtala was furious. Not only did the Federal Military Government take the bold and unprecedented step of releasing President Ford’s letter to the press, it also issued a strong response to it later that evening calling it a “gross insult” and in sum, telling the Americans to go to hell.This event triggered Murtala’s decision to attend the conference and deliver his message to the world.

“Mr. Chairman, when I contemplate the evils of apartheid, my heart bleeds and I am sure the heart of every true blooded African bleeds.” Thus, Murtala opened the powerful and deep moving Africa has come of Age speech. “Rather than join hands with the forces fighting for self-determination and against racism and apartheid, the United States policy makers clearly decided that it was in the best interests of their country to maintain white supremacy and minority regimes in Africa … Africa has come of age. It’s no longer under the orbit of any extra continental power. It should no longer take orders from any country no matter how powerful… gone are the days when Africa will ever bow to the threat of any so-called superpower…” There was thunderous ovation from the Africa Hall and Murtala Muhammed went back to his seat, little knowing that he had exactly 34 days more to live.

Murtala’s forceful delivery of an already tough speech literally grounded the anti MPLA forces. He engaged himself in visiting and lobbying other heads of state to support the MPLA. According to Joe Garba, Murtala daily chalked up in his office the number of the countries Nigeria converted to the MPLA side. Murtala’s support for the MPLA, which not only USA and Britain were fiercely opposing but even the Saudi government was opposing by funding the FNLA, goes a long way to show Murtala’s bold, decisive and patriotic stand on Southern Africa . “Murtala established very forcefully” wrote Patrick Wilmot “that the fight was between African Nationalism, the right of the Blackman to freedom, and Western Imperialism… There was no question of Apartheid South Africa fighting the political red herring of ‘International Communism.’

Murtala was a military leader who did not seize power himself, but was invited, by the coup makers, to lead the Federal Military Government, because of the confidence they had in him being the most suitable to give Nigeria the dynamic, purposeful and efficient leadership it required. Nigerians identified with Murtala because he did what he said he came to do and much more. His bold, assertive, proactive leadership gave Nigerians a sense of belonging, hope and strength in the Nigeria project. Like the twinkle of a star, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed entered and departed the Nigerian, African nay world’s political arena. The impact of his charismatic and dynamic leadership permeates every facet of the Nigerian nation. The name Murtala will be with us forever.Tunji James
If Murital is alive today i am sure French can never use Nigeria to do their dirty job in Ivory Coast,may our heros past are not die in vain.GEJ IS A PUPET OF IMPERIALISM NIGERIANS MUST BE VIGILANT AND RESIST SECOND COLONISATION AND SLAVERY.

Any day now ECOWAS may use force and military actions to unseat Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast. Brothers will kill brothers and sisters will murder sisters. Africans don’t realize that they are one big family. The disorientations created by goods and slave trade, imported religions, colonialism, and decades of unsuccessful self-governance are some of the reasons that Africans continue to misunderstood their common ancestry.

But where was this useless organization called ECOWAS in 1993?
In 1993 Africa was presented with a golden opportunity that could probably have led to the liberation of the continent for all time.

At that time ECOWAS was probably sleeping and OAU was in coma.

In 1993 one tropical gangster called Ibrahim Babangida committed treason in Nigeria. That was not his first time but it was more serious in 1993.

On June 12 1993, millions of Nigerians voted in the best election ever conducted in the history of Nigeria, or perhaps Africa. The Nigerian people voted and the results were rolling in more to the favour of MKO Abiola. When it became evident that Abiola would win, Bashir Tofa (the opponent) was said to have sent him congratulatory messages.

Records have it that as the results were been announced, the prices of goods and services were dropping. There was a tailor who refused to be paid for the services he had rendered. He was so overjoyed that “at last” hope has come to the people.