ABDULMALIQ: Murtala Was A Detribalised Nigerian

Retired Captain Abdulmaliq Yusuf, a former Native Police Authority officer, served under General Murtala Mohammed during the civil war and was with him before he became the head of state. In this interview with MURTALA MUHAMMED, Yusuf said the late head of state was a friendly, but highly disciplined officer.

I FIRST met the late General Murtala Mohammed, in 1953, when I was still in the Native Police Authority, before I later crossed to the Nigeria Army. Then, he was a second lieutenant. After that period, we did not meet again for a long time, until he became the General Officer Commanding, Second Mechanised Division (GOC 2 Div). I served under him as our commander during the civil war at Abakaliki,” said retired Captain Abdulmaliq Yusuf.

I FIRST met the late General Murtala Mohammed, in 1953, when I was still in the Native Police Authority, before I later crossed to the Nigeria Army. Then, he was a second lieutenant. After that period, we did not meet again for a long time, until he became the General Officer Commanding, Second Mechanised Division (GOC 2 Div). I served under him as our commander during the civil war at Abakaliki,” said retired Captain Abdulmaliq Yusuf.

According to him, “Murtala was a gallant officer, who led his troop by being at the warfront. Unlike some generals that will stay behind, he always took charge. He was a brave and highly disciplined officer, who led and controlled men in the battlefield.”

He said, “General Murtala never saw himself as a big officer or commander. He led the war, while directing and giving orders at the warfront. I can bet you, if Nigeria still has people like that in the military today, the menace of the insurgents in the Northeast would have been a thing of the past. Even during the civil war, we knew the efforts and strong will of the likes of Murtala and other gallant officers, who insisted on unity and indivisibility of Nigeria. They stood firm that Nigeria, as an entity, would never be balkanised.”

For AbdulMaliq, General Murtala was a brilliant military officer, who strongly believed in democracy and civil authority. He noted, “if not for his assassination, his plan was to ensure that the military returned to the barracks earlier than they actually did, and also, not remain in power. He was focused in his desire to end military rule. He loved Nigeria such that he did not believe in tribal or religious sentiments, whatsoever.”