A nations currency of exchange usually depicts its culture,people,history as well men and women who have contributed immensely to national development. That is why it beats my imagination that a man like Murutala Ramat Mohammed still has,not just a place of honour on the 20 Naira note, but also has an International Airport and many other landmarks named after him. How is this possible? Or is it that no one cares about history any more? How can such a controversial character still be accorded such recognition?
The sins of Murutala:

1] Led the counter coup and superviced the killing of over 300 fellow officers. Murutala led other northern elements to commit this murderous act in retaliation for what they tagged an "Igbo coup". For me,a coup plotter,wether Nzeogwu or Murutala has any place in history. It should also be noted that everyone who participated in the first coup were punished at the end of the war while Murutala and co who committed far worse atrocities got off scot-free.

2]Troops under Murutala's command committed genocide in Asaba when they entered the city at the start of the civil war. Over 700 defenceless civilians who came to welcome the federal troops were gunned down in cold blood. Wether this happend on Murutala's orders or not is immaterial. His troops killed people and he should bear responsibility for the conduct of his men.

3]Murutala,in direct contravention of orders and sound advice led thousands of Nigerian soldiers to their deaths trying to cross the river Niger (in 3 separate attempts) into Onitsha all in his vain attempt to increase his popularity. His troops would later be destroyed at Abagana and he was recalled from the war and sent to London while many of his men lay dead under the River Niger.

4]Murutala came to represent the face of northern domination. He kicked out Gowon,seized power,retired everyone who was above him in rank and in one of the worst acts of military indecipline,he triple promoted himself from a one star Brigadier to a full 4 star General. Murutala was the first military officer to conduct a coup in other to take political power. Even Nzeogwu and co had no intention to take power for themselves.

Murutala Mohammed was a failed soldier,a sociopath,mass murderer and accomplished coup plotter. Because of him,many people needlessly died. My question is this. What is the face of such a despicable man doing on the 20 Naira note?

^^^^^ You must be very young not to realised that Murtala Mohammed was actually loved by many when he was Head Of State and when he died, there was riots all over the country.

The problem is that we have been unable to put out our history for younger generations.

Let's ask google

Beats me.

op I gave you that like

op Ve you eaten today ??

dunno ooo

So they should have put ojukwu's face on the note,abi?
Stop wasting ur time on irrelevant things

Boss13:
^^^^^ You must be very young not to realised that Murtala Mohammed was actually loved by many when he was Head Of State and when he died, there was riots all over the country.

The problem is that we have been unable to put out our history for younger generations.

The people loved him out of ignorance or what? So when a man masterminds the deaths of so many people,that man should be loved if he 'shoots' his way to power and brings about popular reforms? Hitler did something similar in Germany but Germans never put him on the deautch mark. Hmmmm....... What stops Shakau being on the 100 Naira note one day?

Did dat stuff really happen in Asaba or its just a myth...

zendy:


The people loved him out of ignorance or what? So when a man masterminds the deaths of so many people,that man should be loved if he 'shoots' his way to power and brings about popular reforms? Hitler did something similar in Germany but Germans never put him on the deautch mark. Hmmmm....... What stops Shakau being on the 100 Naira note one day?

Dats wat happens when u share a country with Ediots...

clueless OP...MM is a great nigeria solder and deserves the honour

Attention: Your spelling of the late former Head of State's name was wrong (Murutala), you may wish to take a critical look at 20 naira note for correction.
And for your question, you can't be more wise and intelligent than notable Nigerians that immortalized him. However, the ultimate is for you to make an indelible print on the sand of time.

Mr OP you are the most stewpid and clueless dude in the whole of Nairaland.
Do you know this man ruled with Obasanjo and it was one of the best military rule in Nigeria?
He fought corruption you don't know that?
He and Obasanjo after his death handed over power successfully in his time you don't know that?
You said he promoted himself. Do you expect a DPO to be the head where an Inspector General is?

You are too poor in history you don't know where you are from . . .

zendy:


The people loved him out of ignorance or what? So when a man masterminds the deaths of so many people,that man should be loved if he 'shoots' his way to power and brings about popular reforms? Hitler did something similar in Germany but Germans never put him on the deautch mark. Hmmmm....... What stops Shakau being on the 100 Naira note one day?

op am sorry to say dis but u must b high on weed to even ask d bolded question,, in dt case I cn bomb ur generation n expect a state funeral

Notice the response of Nigerians on this topic, and ask your self why any well breed Igboman should be found shouting one Nigeria.


This colonial anomaly celebrates blood thirsty power hungry murderer like Mutala Muhammad, but want blood to stop flowing in Kano,Maiduguri,Mubi,etc.

Funny.

The presence of Mutala in 20 naira and in lagos airport, is a perfect reminder to any well breast fed Igbo man of what Nigeria stands for.

The message they send is clear: Nothing is wrong with being a mass murderer,as long as the victims are Igbos.

Btw, Op, Onlytruth had raised the same topic, sometime ago, here in NL. The response he got there,was similar to the ones you are getting here.

Boss13:
^^^^^ You must be very young not to realised that Murtala Mohammed was actually loved by many when he was Head Of State and when he died, there was riots all over the country.

The problem is that we have been unable to put out our history for younger generations.

he was loved does not negate the facts stated above.agreed he was young (inexperienced) but exuberant(action man) but his legacies (all bad) even though populist) live on and i pray we can overcome them.

HonourablePomk:
Mr OP you are the most stewpid and clueless dude in the whole of Nairaland.
Do you know this man ruled with Obasanjo and it was one of the best military rule in Nigeria?
He fought corruption you don't know that?
He and Obasanjo after his death handed over power successfully in his time you don't know that?
You said he promoted himself. Do you expect a DPO to be the head where an Inspector General is?

You are too poor in history you don't know where you are from . . .

Strange that you say that I'm poor in history but you don't even know that Murutala was dead 3 years before Obasunjo handed over to Shagari. Murutala didn't hand over to anyone. So you like this man because he fought corruption for 6 months even though he killed thousands of people before then? So if I kill your father and go and fight corruption you will forgive me? The mentality of some people is truly astonishing

Bimpe29:
Attention: Your spelling of the late former Head of State's name was wrong (Murutala), you may wish to take a critical look at 20 naira note for correction.
And for your question, you can't be more wise and intelligent than notable Nigerians that immortalized him. However, the ultimate is for you to make an indelible print on the sand of time.

I may not be as wise as some Nigerians who chose to immortalise him but that doesnt mean I can't ask why a certified mass murderer and renowned coup plotter has a place of honour on the 20 Naira note. Has the standard of Nigerians fallen so low to celebrate a killer?

phantonce:
So they should have put ojukwu's face on the note,abi?
Stop wasting ur time on irrelevant things

There's no comparison between Ojukwu and Murutala. Ojukwu was never involved in any coup,Ojukwu never encouraged wholesale murder,Ojukwu fought a war to defend his people and not genocide. Ojukwu may have declared Biafra but he followed the wishes of his and their right to choose if they want be Nigerian or not. Ojukwu is a saint compared to the murderous Murutala.

pazienza:
Notice the response of Nigerians on this topic, and ask your self why any well breed Igboman should be found shouting one Nigeria.


This colonial anomaly celebrates blood thirsty power hungry murderer like Mutala Muhammad, but want blood to stop flowing in Kano,Maiduguri,Mubi,etc.

Funny.

^^^I for one have given up on this country; a country where some celebrate mass murderers just b'cos the victims were the very people they despise!

Many pretending we have one 'united and indivisible' country need to wake up to the reality starring them in the face!

zendy:


Strange that you say that I'm poor in history but you don't even know that Murutala was dead 3 years before Obasunjo handed over to Shagari. Murutala didn't hand over to anyone. So you like this man because he fought corruption for 6 months even though he killed thousands of people before then? So if I kill your father and go and fight corruption you will forgive me? The mentality of some people is truly astonishing

lol and was it because i didn't state he died few days after creating 9 states because i was lazy to type. lol OP you are jobless get something doing please. And did you know Murtala was the only Bloodless Coup that Nigeria has ever seen? And didn't you asked yourself why he planned a coup against Gowon? lol Mr OP go and read you book.

Why debate on this issue again?...after all,the mass murderer got what he deserved, He was killed too by a fellow officer.

Bimpe29:
Attention: Your spelling of the late former Head of State's name was wrong (Murutala), you may wish to take a critical look at 20 naira note for correction.
And for your question, you can't be more wise and intelligent than notable Nigerians that immortalized him. However, the ultimate is for you to make an indelible print on the sand of time.

Why bother, @zendy &co should not put "muri" in their pockets if it gives them nightmares and let us move on with our lives. That is not too difficult.

tobtap:
clueless OP...MM is a great nigeria solder and deserves the honour

What makes him great?

Hoii:
What makes him great?

he served nigeria gallantly during the civil war and started alot of reform was started by his government before he was killed....

Murtala Muhammad was Nigeria's best leader. A real transformative character. Extremely courageous almost to the point of foolhardiness. Corruption free. Drove about without convoys, spiritual, ascetic and self sacrificing. Sometimes full of braggadocio, active, visionary.
The best foreign policy Nigeria ever had was under Muhammad. The liberation of South Africa and Zimbabwe and MPLA's victory in Angola were the doings of Muhammad.
You may not have been alive at the time but take it from me that Nigeria was not always a dirty, corrupt, cesspool governed by a corrupt, clueless and visionless coward.

zendy:


There's no comparison between Ojukwu and Murutala. Ojukwu was never involved in any coup,Ojukwu never encouraged wholesale murder,Ojukwu fought a war to defend his people and not genocide. Ojukwu may have declared Biafra but he followed the wishes of his and their right to choose if they want be Nigerian or not. Ojukwu is a saint compared to the murderous Murutala.

ojukwu is a coward.....he fled nigeria and left his "BELOVED" people on their own...atleast muritala didnt run from the war front during the war,so he deserves the honour nigeria can bestow on him

zendy:


The people loved him out of ignorance or what? So when a man masterminds the deaths of so many people,that man should be loved if he 'shoots' his way to power and brings about popular reforms? Hitler did something similar in Germany but Germans never put him on the deautch mark. Hmmmm....... What stops Shakau being on the 100 Naira note one day?

Muhammad did not cause the death of Ibos. Ojukwu did and cowardly ran away ...and by the way, Ojukwu had nothing but disrespect for Gowon but for Murtala it was undisguised fear and respect. Go and do your research and face facts. The truth is always painful.