Murtala MUhammed 50 years after: Murtala abhorred laziness – Sister
Hajiya Balaraba Ramat Yakubu, younger sister to Nigeria’s late Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammad, spoke about his ancestry, childhood, leadership style, and enduring legacy. In this exclusive interview, she clears misconceptions about his roots, reflects on his life, and challenges Nigerian youths to learn from his vision for the country. How are […]
Hajiya Balaraba Ramat Yakubu, younger sister to Nigeria’s late Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammad, spoke about his ancestry, childhood, leadership style, and enduring legacy. In this exclusive interview, she clears misconceptions about his roots, reflects on his life, and challenges Nigerian youths to learn from his vision for the country.
How are you related to late Murtala Muhammad?
He was my elder brother, we share the same mother with him.
What do you recall about his childhood?
I don’t know much about his childhood because he joined the military the year I was born, in 1958. He wasn’t living in Kano; he only came home during breaks. People used to gather to see him, and that was when I realized he was a soldier and my brother.
How old were you when he was killed?
I was around 18. What I vividly recall is that he was Head of State when our father died, and he came with his entourage for condolence. We didn’t know much about his private life later because he wasn’t living in Kano, and we didn’t travel much to Lagos.
How would you describe his personality and leadership style?
He was a principled man who never believed in laziness or playing with responsibility. These principles shaped how he ruled Nigeria. He had integrity, he was patriotic, and he did all he could to see Nigeria stand. That was what cost him his life. In just six months in power, he achieved a lot that many leaders could not. Nigerians are living witnesses to his impact.
How did you receive the story of his assassination 50 years ago?
The day he was assassinated, all his family, both immediate and extended, fell into the worst calamity anyone could face. Friends, relatives, and well-wishers all over the world mourned him. After his death, many places and structures were named after him, including Nigeria’s biggest airport in Lagos, institutions, government buildings, and roads. Many people even named their children after him or after our mother, Ramat.
Why did he add his mother’s name, Ramat, to his own?
I don’t know why he chose to add our mother’s name to his. He never informed me. But when we grew up, we realized it was also our mother’s name, so we started using it too.
There have been different claims about General Murtala’s ancestry. Can you clarify this?
There are a lot of misconceptions and misrepresentations about his ancestry, that he is from Edo. That is not true. None of Murtala’s parents is from Edo State; they are all from Kano. Murtala is truly from Kano royal and clerical families. I have traced all his grandparents and family lineage in a book I have written and about to present.
You mentioned writing a book about him. What does it cover?
I have gathered names of places and institutions named after him in my book, which is about his biography and ancestry.
How do you compare Nigeria’s past leaders with the present ones?
Many leaders in early Nigeria did their best, but I don’t think current leaders are doing enough to build on those legacies.
How is his memory being preserved today?
Every year, the Murtala Muhammad Foundation organizes events in his honor. This year, we commemorated his anniversary with special prayers at his mosque in Kano. The Kano government may also do its own. Rundunar Kishin Kano (Concerned Kano Forum) will hold a symposium and public presentation of my book about him and his ancestry.
What message do you have for Nigerian youths?
I challenge all our youths to go and study who Murtala was and the good intentions he had for the country. Nigeria is their country. They should strive in their respective areas to make Nigeria truly the giant of Africa.