Brig. Murtala Muhammed Swears-in the Supreme Military Council | Outlines Aims of Regime | Aug. 1975

Tuesday, August 5th 1975.
Footage of Brigadier Murtala Muhammed, the Nigerian military Head of State presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of members of the Supreme Military Council which replaced the previous council led by General Yakubu Gowon who had been overthrown on July 29th 1975.
The swearing in took place after a photo shoot in the grounds of Dodan Barracks, the seat of power.
Among those captured on film being sworn-in were Brigadier Theophilus Danjuma, the Army Chief of Staff; Commodore Michael Ayinde Adelanwa, the Chief of the Naval Staff; and Navy Captain Olufemi Olumide.
Brigadier Olusegun Obasanjo, the Chief of Staff Supreme Headquaters was seated on Muhammed's right and Lt. Colonel Babatunde Idiagbon, the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) at Supreme Headquarters, stood next to those taking the oath.
Among those members of the junta who posed for an official photograph with Brigadier Murtala Muhammed were Brigadier Iliya Bisalla, Alhaji M.D. Yusuf, Brigadier Olusegun Obasanjo, Brigadier Theophilus Danjuma, Commodore Michael Adelanwa, and the Air Force Chief, Air Force Colonel John Yisa-Doko, Brigadier Emmanuel Abisoye, Brigadier James Oluleye, Navy Captain Olufemi Olumide, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, Navy Captain Husaini Abdulahi, Colonel Alani Akinrinade, Colonel Ibrahim Babangida, Colonel Joseph Garba, Lt. Colonel Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, Air Force Colonel Dan Suleiman and Lt. Commander Ndubuisi Kanu.
Among the objectives of the new regime was the creation of new states and the choosing of a location for a new federal capital.
Source: Private Collection.

[@adetibakayode1332]

The Great General Murtala Mohamed ! We will always remember you and your Golden Era. Men will tell your story for morethan a thousand years. may you continue to rest in perfect peace.. Amen

[@therealist2866]

Golden Era ko, Golden Penny ni!
If IBB had been killed within 6 months of taking power in 1986, folks would’ve similarly have been talking about a “golden era”. SMH

[@adstix]

Those were the vicious dog eat dog years!
A mere suspicion was enough to throw an officer under the bus in an instant!
Check out a movie on Netflix titled "76" for a little glimpse into that era

[@mrNaoissa]

I’ve watched that movie

[@youssefcamara3916]

Saw the picture of the late general Bisalla in the group photo from the left. What a sad ending for a particularly brilliant gifted officer. Mais c’est ça aussi l’histoire des hommes, l’ambition et parfois la trahison. Merci beaucoup!

[@adeyinkamakinde6164]

Yes, Brigadier Iliya Bisalla on the extreme left in the first row. Brigadier Olusegun Obasanjo and Brigadier Theophilus Danjuma flank Murtala the Head of State.
When Lt. Colonel Buka Suwa Dimka was captured his implication of Bisalla was accepted because Bisalla had bitterly complained at Danjuma's promotion to lt. general while Bisalla, who had been Danjuma's senior, was promoted to major general. It also did not make sense to Bisalla that as the Federal Commissioner for Defence, Danjuma, the Army Chief of Staff, reported to him.
Bisalla denied involvement but was convicted by a special military tribunal and executed by firing squad.

[@love-heartbamaiyi4258]

@@adeyinkamakinde6164 umm, conspiracy, thanks Adeyinka

[@adewaleibraheem3974]

@@adeyinkamakinde6164 That is probably one of the failings of Murtala's government.
I wonder why anybody in their right senses couldn't have reasonably foreseen Bisalla's bitterness.
From the ample reading I've done, I'm not sure of Bisalla's involvement in that coup. Since then, there have been doubts about Gomwalk's involvement.
Dang, Dimka even implicated Gowon.
The FG at that time were out for blood, and the chance of a fair trial was slim.
I think if all the coup trials in Nigeria had been conducted in the open, Nigerians would have had a different view of the guilt of some that were convicted/condemned with the exception of the 1990 coup.

[@therealist2866]

@@adeyinkamakinde6164 you’re doing a great job with these old videos, but with all due respect the government had much more on Bisalla other than Dimka’s words or his disgruntlement. At the very least, Bisalla was well aware of Clement Dabang’s plans for a “bloody revolution” and kept quiet. In the heated atmosphere that followed Murtala’s brutal assassination, it was no surprise that his erstwhile colleagues showed him no mercy.

[@therealist2866]

@@adewaleibraheem3974 please NONE of those folks were “innocent” (at least not under the military code that is different from civil law). The only ‘mitigating’ argument for some of them is the dilemma of reporting a coup plot and suffering consequences depending on its outcome. Otherwise, folks like Gomwalk and Bisalla were fully aware of the plot(s).

[@1anre]

Joe Garba’ signature sideburns & moustache can be spotted anytime anywhere.

[@anthonyekaba5122]

The promotion of Brig Danjuma above Bissala who was his senior in the Army and Government defies logic.

[@Foresythe]

Lt Col Idiagbon backing the camera.

[@wunmifash3116]

Alani akinrinnade and danjuma entered the Nigerian army the same year. Yet danjuma is a brigadier here, this is weird

[@chukwumaezenwa4480]

Akirinnade was also a Brigadier at this point.

[@anthonyekaba5122]

They were Brigadiers....

[@mikerosco4267]

They waited until Lt. Col. Gowon was safely in Uganda. I doubt whether Lt. Col really forgave them as events 6 months later would unfold.

[@MrFafafin]

General Gowon in 1975

[@somtochukwuuchendu7721]

This man committed genocide in Asaba. He's no hero