Former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo initially opted to retire from the Army rather than succeed Murtala Muhammed as Head of State following the failed 1976 coup.
In his autobiography, A Journey in Service, Babangida recounts the events that unfolded after Lieutenant-Colonel Bukar Dimka led a group of mutineers in an attempt to overthrow Murtala’s government, resulting in the assassination of the Head of State.
According to Babangida, the Supreme Military Council (SMC) convened the next day to decide on a successor, with discussions centering on Lieutenant-Generals Obasanjo and Theophilus Danjuma, who were the most senior officers at the time. While the initial preference was for Danjuma, he declined and instead recommended Obasanjo, Murtala’s deputy, to take over.
“The next day, the SMC met in Lagos to pick a successor to General Muhammed. We knew it would be either General Obasanjo or General Danjuma since, as Lieutenant-Generals, they were the most senior. As I recall, the pendulum swung in favour of General Danjuma at the start of the deliberations. Everyone present, including Obasanjo, thought Danjuma should take over.
But somehow, Danjuma cast his lot with Obasanjo, insisting that as Muhammed’s deputy and a ‘senior’ Lieutenant-General, Obasanjo should succeed Murtala Muhammed. Obasanjo refused and offered, if I recall accurately, to retire from the Army to enable Danjuma to emerge as Head of State.
There appeared to be a momentary stalemate. But that soon faded away. Faced with the insistence of Danjuma, everyone caved in, and Obasanjo accepted the challenge to succeed Murtala.”
