Africa Has Come Of Age - The speech that got Murtala Mohammed assasinated

Africa Has Come Of Age - The speech that got  Murtala Mohammed assasinated

Murtala supervised the infamous Asaba Massacre where Biafran civilians were slaughtered. He fell out with Gowon after he was disgraced by Biafran soldiers at the heroic Abagana onslaught. Repentant Murtala Mohammed overthrew Gowon few years after the Biafra-Nigeria war. Mohammed who fought against Biafra - the light of Africa that would have reposition the continent, - after few years came out to confront the same imperialists that backed them.

Initially, Murtala showed little interest in attending the conference; Obasanjo was making preparations to make an appearance in his place. Suddenly an event happened that made him changed his mind and compelled him to make the historic and flamboyant appearance at the conference where he gave the speech "Africa has come of Age" delivered On the 11th of January 1976 at an extra-ordinary meeting of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

On the 3rd of January 1976, the American Ambassador to Nigeria , Mr. Donald Easum, brought a letter addressed to the Nigerian Head of State from the United States President Gerald Ford. The same letter was sent to many African leaders. Murtala was furious. Not only did the Federal Military Government take the bold and unprecedented step of releasing President Ford’s letter to the press, it also issued a strong response to it later that evening calling it a “gross insult” and in sum, telling the Americans to go to hell. This event triggered Murtala’s decision to attend the conference and deliver his message to the world

Excerpts Of His Speech (The Concluding Part)

“Mr Chairman, when I contemplate the evils of apartheid, my heart bleeds and I am sure the heart of every true blooded African bleeds. . . Rather than join hands with the forces fighting for self-determination and against racism and apartheid, the United States policy makers clearly decided that it was in the best interests of their country to maintain white supremacy and minority regimes in Africa.

Africa has come of age. It’s no longer under the orbit of any extra continental power.

It should no longer take orders from any country, however powerful. The fortunes of Africa are in our hands to make or to mar. For too long have we been kicked around; for too long have we been treated like adolescents who cannot discern their interests and act accordingly.

For too long has it been presumed that the African needs outside ‘experts’ to tell him who are his friends and who are his enemies. The time has come when we should make it clear that we can decide for ourselves; that we know our own interests and how to protect those interests; that we are capable of resolving African problems without presumptuous lessons in ideological dangers which, more often than not, have no relevance for us, nor for the problem at hand.

“There was thunderous ovation from the Africa Hall and Murtala Muhammed went back to his seat” – Abu Fatima.

Murtala Ramat Mohammed was killed 34 days after making this speech, Olusegun Obasanjo became Supreme Military Head of State after his death.