As Nigerians remembered the late head of state, Gen. Murtala Mohammed yesterday, the Murtala Mohammed Foundation (MMF) has urged the government to revive his policies and programmes in order to address the current socio-economic challenges in the country.
The chief executive officer of Murtala Mohammed Foundation, Dr. Aisha Mohammed-Oyebode made the call yesterday to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the death of Gen. Mohammed.
She expressed concern over the prevailing hardships in the country and called on the government to take urgent measures to restore socio-economic prosperity, echoing the achievements of the Mohammed-Obasanjo military regime that brought hope to Nigerians in the 1975/76 period.
Mohammed-Oyebode emphasised the need to revisit the policies and programmes of the former administration and implement those that are relevant to address the current challenges faced by the people of Nigeria.
“It is important to recall that during the first 200 days of his administration in 1975/76, there was a significant improvement in the socio-economic situation of the country, bringing relief and hope to the citizens. However, this progress was tragically interrupted by the unsuccessful coup of February 13, 1976, led by the late Buka Suka Dimka.
“Gen. Mohammed was widely renowned as a detribalized, bold, and authentic leader with a commitment to pan-Africanism. His legacy was marked by both economic prosperity and anti- corruption with significant improvements in the quality of life in Nigeria, ’’ she said in a statement made available to journalists in Lagos.
Mohammed-Oyebode lamented that in spite of the progress achieved during Gen. Murtala Mohammed’s administration, Nigeria currently confronts the looming threat of socio-economic collapse.
The MMF boss stressed the urgent need for positive change, drawing attention to the remarkable achievements of Gen. Muhammed and his team during their brief tenure in power.
