President Bola Tinubu has described that Nigeria’s former Head of State, Murtala Muhammed, possessed “democratic blood in his veins,” despite his emergence as a military ruler.
The President made the remark on Thursday at the 50th Murtala Mohammed International Lecture and Leadership Conference held in Abuja in honour of the late leader.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Tinubu said that within his short time in office, General Muhammed laid out a deliberate and structured transition programme aimed at returning Nigeria to presidential democracy.
According to the President, the late leader’s actions demonstrated a commitment to democratic governance that distinguished him in Nigeria’s political history.
He described Muhammed as a deeply patriotic Nigerian whose leadership left a lasting mark on the country’s political evolution and anti-corruption drive.
Tinubu noted that Muhammed confronted corruption decisively and initiated reforms that are still remembered decades later. He added that the late Head of State devoted himself to restoring Nigeria’s pride and repositioning the country for progress.
The President also highlighted Muhammed’s strong Pan-African stance, recalling Nigeria’s support for liberation movements across the continent, including in Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Guinea-Bissau, as well as its role in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also spoke at the event, said one of Muhammed’s enduring legacies was grooming a successor. He observed that many leaders fail to prepare those who would continue their vision but credited Muhammed’s influence for shaping his own commitment to handing over power and sustaining democratic governance.
