President Bola Tinubu has said the enduring legacy of former Head of State, Murtala Mohammed, remains a moral compass for Nigeria and the African continent in navigating contemporary political and economic challenges.
The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, at the 50th memorial anniversary of the late leader, said Mohammed’s principled and courageous leadership continues to inspire Africa five decades after his assassination.
Leading tributes at the memorial conference and book launch, Tinubu disclosed that he readily accepted the invitation to serve as Grand Patron of the event upon receiving a letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of the Murtala Mohammed Foundation.
Describing the late General as an extraordinary African statesman, Tinubu said his bold vision and decisive leadership left an indelible mark on Nigeria and the continent.
“It has been 50 years since the assassination of General Murtala Mohammed. Today, this great leader — a remarkable son of Nigeria and Africa — has summoned us to reflect on the state of our continent,” the President stated.
Tinubu recalled Mohammed’s famous 1976 address delivered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during a meeting of the Organisation of African Unity, where he declared that “Africa has come of age” and should no longer take orders from any global power.
According to the President, the declaration marked a defining moment in Nigeria’s foreign policy and signalled Africa’s readiness to chart its own course during the Cold War era.
He described the 1970s as the golden age of Nigeria’s foreign policy, adding that the period could aptly be termed the “Murtala Mohammed era.”
Tinubu noted that Mohammed championed African solutions to African problems, particularly through Nigeria’s support for liberation struggles in Angola and Mozambique, positioning the country as a leading voice on the continent.
He also highlighted the transformative achievements of the late leader’s brief 201-day administration, including sweeping civil service reforms, the conceptualisation of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and the initiation of a transition programme to civil rule.
While lamenting that Mohammed’s tenure was cut short, Tinubu said his patriotism, discipline, courage and clarity of vision secured his place among Nigeria’s most distinguished leaders.
The President urged African leaders to uphold the ideals the late Head of State stood for, including accountable governance, conflict resolution, poverty reduction, improved education, and economic transformation through value addition to local resources.
“Africa will truly come of age when we create opportunities for our youth at home and ensure the welfare of our people,” he said.
Tinubu emphasised that honouring Mohammed’s memory requires a renewed commitment to service, integrity and patriotism in fulfilling the aspirations of Africa’s founding heroes.
