Chapter 07 of 17

Discipline and Principle

The 1975 coup brought General Murtala Mohammed to power and Yar'Adua into government, first as Commissioner for Transport and then, after Murtala's assassination, as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.

Commissioner for Transport
Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, first from left, sworn in as Commissioner for Transport on promotion to Brigadier General, with Generals Tunde Idiagbon, Murtala Mohammed and Olusegun Obasanjo.
Commissioner for Transport
Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, left, at his swearing-in as Commissioner for Transport, with Generals Tunde Idiagbon, Murtala Mohammed and Olusegun Obasanjo.
Murtala Mohammed Takes Power
General Murtala Mohammed addresses the press after assuming office as Head of State following the bloodless coup of 29 July 1975.
Prayers for General Mohammed
Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, right, at a Federal Executive Council meeting as prayers are offered for General Murtala Mohammed, assassinated on 13 February 1976.
The Murtala Mohammed Cabinet
Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, last row and second from left, with the Cabinet of General Murtala Mohammed's administration.
The Assassination in the Headlines
A newspaper announcing the assassination of General Murtala Mohammed after the failed coup of 13 February 1976.
A New Leadership
The New Nigerian reports the appointment of General Olusegun Obasanjo as Head of State and Brigadier Shehu Musa Yar'Adua as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.