Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State attended a wreath-laying ceremony on Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of the passing of late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, GCFR.
The event took place at the late leader’s cenotaph in Ikoyi.
Also present at the ceremony were Senator Daisy Danjuma, wife of retired Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma; Dr. Aisha Muhammed Oyebode, daughter of the late General and CEO of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation; her husband, Gbenga Oyebode; and Hon. Bola Oladunjoye, Chairman of Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA, among other officials and dignitaries.
The ceremony involved the laying of wreaths at the cenotaph in honor of General Muhammed, commemorating his life and contributions.
Who is the late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed?
PUNCH Online reports that the late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed was Nigeria’s Head of State from July 1975 until his assassination on 13 February 1976.
His time in office lasted just seven months, with the public adjudging that it was marked by sweeping reforms.
He came to power through a bloodless coup that removed General Yakubu Gowon and quickly moved to reorganise the civil service, create new states, tackle corruption and set Nigeria on the path back to civilian rule.
His tenure was cut short when his convoy was ambushed in Ikoyi, Lagos, during an attempted coup by military officers. He, his driver and his aide-de-camp were killed.
Leadership then passed to his deputy, Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo, who continued the transition programme that eventually led to democratic governance.
Fifty years later, commemorative events have been held across February 2026 to mark the anniversary of his death.
Activities have included exhibitions, policy discussions, memorial gatherings and wreath-laying ceremonies — including the event in Ikoyi attended by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu — reflecting on Muhammed’s leadership and its place in Nigeria’s history.
All photos credit: Lagos Press
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