MILITARY RULE IN NIGERIA FROM 1975 TO 1979

CONTENT

1. Introduction
2. Reasons for Murtala’s Coup
3. Structure of the Murtala-Obasanjo Government
4. Achievements of the Murtala-Obasanjo Administration
5. Failures of the Murtala-Obasanjo Regime
6. The 1983 Military Coup
7. Factors Responsible for the 1983 Military Coup
8. Structure of the Buhari Government
9. Achievements of the Buhari administration
10. Failures of the Buhari Regime

Introduction

On 29 July 1975 Brigadier (later General) Murtala Muhammed in a bloodless coup took over power from General Gowon who was in Kampala for an Organisation of African Unity (OAU) meeting. General Muhammed was himself killed in an abortive coup on 13 February 1976 leaving his deputy, General Obasanjo to continue his programme. This situation gave the regime the tag, Murtala-Obasanjo regime.

The car in which Murtala Muhammed was assassinated

Reasons for Murtala’s Coup

1. Majority of Nigerians had become disappointed with Gowon’s regime after allegations of corruption against some of his key officials at both state and federal levels, officials whom Gowon single-handedly exonerated.