L-R: Major-General Ahmed Taiwo, Rtd., representing the family of Late Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo; Hon. Bola Oladunjoye, Chairman, Ikoyi-Obanlende LCDA; Senator Daisy Danjuma; His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor; Dr. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, CEO, Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF); and Mr. Gbenga Oyebode (MFR), Chairman of the Board of Directors, Lafarge Africa Plc, during the Official Wreath-Laying Ceremony in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of late General Murtala Muhammed, GCFR, at his cenotaph in Ikoyi… on Friday.
It was a solemn moment of national reflection as the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alongside members of the family of the late former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, gathered at the official Wreath-Laying and Remembrance Ceremony, to commemorate 50 years of his passing.
The memorial ceremony, which held at the General Murtala Ramat Muhammed Cenotaph, Ikoyi, the site where General Muhammed was killed, brought together senior government officials, representatives of the Nigerian Army, members of the diplomatic corps, and other distinguished guests.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, daughter of the late General and Chief Executive Officer of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), reflected emotionally on the personal loss her family endured, noting that the pain of losing her father at the age of 12 still resurfaces five decades later.
“We stand here not just to lay a wreath, but to lay down our gratitude. Fifty years is a long time in the life of a nation, and also in the lives of the children who lost their father that day. This moment is about gratitude,” she said.
His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor, with the family of the Late General Murtala Muhammed, during the Official Wreath-Laying Ceremony in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of late General Murtala Muhammed, GCFR, at his cenotaph in Ikoyi… on Friday.
Dr. Muhammed-Oyebode further described the late General as a timeless symbol of principled and courageous leadership, a man who believed firmly that leadership is a sacred duty.
“General Murtala Muhammed stood for courage, decisive leadership and an unshakeable belief in Nigeria’s potential. Today’s remembrance is not only about honoring his memory, but about recommitting ourselves to the ideals he lived and died for — service, integrity and national unity,” she said.
Beyond Nigeria’s borders, Dr. Muhammed-Oyebode spoke of her father’s lasting influence across Africa, particularly in Angola, where Nigeria played a key role in supporting the country’s independence struggle under General Muhammed’s leadership.
In his tribute, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the late General as a rare and exceptional Pan-Africanist whose leadership helped reshape Nigeria’s political and administrative landscape.
“He was a leader who governed with courage, compassion, dignity, and an unwavering sense of purpose, always putting Nigeria first. We lost one of Africa’s finest Pan-Africanists and a leader who achieved so much within an incredibly short time,” Sanwo-Olu said.
L-R: Daugthers of the Late General Murtala Muhammed, Iman Adeosun-Awopeju, Fatima Murtala Muhammed, and Dr. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, the CEO, Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF); His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor; Senator Daisy Danjuma; Mrs Nike Olujembola; and Mr. Gbenga Oyebode (MFR), Chairman of the Board of Directors, Lafarge Africa Plc, during the Official Wreath-Laying Ceremony in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of late General Murtala Muhammed, GCFR, at his cenotaph in Ikoyi… on Friday.
Also speaking, Major General (Rtd.) Ahmed Taiwo, representing the family of the late Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo, described him as a fearless and principled leader who dismissed warnings about threats to his life.
“When he was told that some people were planning against him, he waved it aside and said, ‘Let them plan; good luck if they can run the country.’ These were men in a hurry to make an impact—and they did, in just 200 days,” he said.
The Remembrance and Honour Ceremony concluded with renewed calls for Nigerians — particularly leaders at all levels — to draw inspiration from General Murtala Muhammed’s life of service, patriotism and sacrifice, and to uphold the values of integrity, discipline and national unity that he championed.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, has issued a stern warning to members of the state task force, stating that the unit risks being disbanded if found culpable of human rights violations.
Jimoh issued the warning on Saturday while addressing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja, in reaction to a viral video showing the arrest of a traffic offender.
Recall that the incident sparked widespread debate online, with some residents alleging that task force officials used excessive force.
Speaking in response to a viral video involving the arrest of a traffic offender, the police chief maintained that there was no indication of abuse in the incident, stressing that the suspect was handled in accordance with established legal procedures.
He said that the individual arrested for driving against traffic was treated in line with the law and due process.
Jimoh explained that the suspect was promptly taken before a mobile court, where the charges were read, and bail was granted.
However, the individual was later remanded after failing to meet the bail conditions.
According to him, the task force is legally empowered to enforce environmental and sanitation laws across Lagos State, noting that their activities are essential to maintaining order in a densely populated city.
The commissioner said that he had already engaged task force personnel in retraining sessions focused on respecting human rights and maintaining professionalism in the course of duty.
“I will not hesitate to dissolve the task force and bring in a new set of personnel if there is clear evidence of human rights violations, as no officer is indispensable,” he said.
He also acknowledged the role of social media and the media in bringing such incidents to public attention, describing it as part of the responsibility of citizens to hold institutions accountable.
However, he cautioned against spreading misinformation that could undermine public trust.
Calling on residents to remain law-abiding, the police boss urged members of the public to report any misconduct to the police, assuring that all complaints would be thoroughly investigated.
He said that policing in Lagos required a balance between enforcing the law and respecting the dignity of citizens.
“Lagos has a population estimated between 20 and 25 million people, making strict adherence to laws essential to prevent disorder and chaos,” he said.
Iran’s foreign minister has warned the United Kingdom that Tehran considers Britain’s decision to allow the United States to use British military bases as “participation in aggression.”
Seyyed Abbas Araghchi criticised the UK’s “negative and biased” stance toward the US-Israeli assault on Iran during a call with his British counterpart.
Araghchi warned that granting America access to UK bases “will certainly be considered participation in aggression.”
However, in response to the allegation, a spokesperson of the UK Prime Minister told reporters the UK granted the United States access only “for a specific defensive and limited purpose” in response to Iran’s strikes across the Middle East.
“Our position has been crystal clear from the outset. We didn’t participate in the initial strikes, and we’re not getting drawn into the wider war,” the spokesperson said.
According to reports, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially refused Washington’s request to use UK military bases for its attacks on Iran, with the PM considering the strikes illegal.
However, Starmer joined the defence against Iran’s retaliation after Iranian forces attacked British military assets in the Middle East.
It was reported earlier that Starmer said his country accepted a United States request to use British bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missiles in storage depots or launchers.
“The United States has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose. We have taken the decision to accept this request to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region,” Starmer said at the time.
Tehran’s warning escalates diplomatic tensions between Iran and Britain as the conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel enters its fourth week.
The British government authorised the United States on Friday to use military bases in Britain to strike Iranian missile sites attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a decision that prompted Iran to warn the move constitutes “participation in aggression.”
According to a British spokesperson, ministers met on Friday to discuss the war with Iran and Iran’s blocking of the Strait of Hormuz.
“They confirmed that the agreement for the US to use UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region includes US defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.
It was reported earlier that Iran’s foreign minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, warned the United Kingdom that Tehran considers Britain’s decision to allow America to use British military bases as “participation in aggression.”
Araghchi criticised the UK’s “negative and biased” stance toward the US-Israeli assault on Iran during a call with his British counterpart following Friday’s authorisation.
Starmer Reverses Earlier Position On Base Use
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said earlier this week Britain would not enter a war over Iran. He initially rejected an American request to use British bases for strikes on Iran, saying he needed confirmation that any military action was legal.
However, Starmer changed his stance after Iran conducted strikes on British allies across the Middle East, allowing America to use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, a joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean.
It was gathered that President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked Starmer since the conflict started, complaining he was not doing enough to help America.
On Monday, Trump said there were “some countries that greatly disappointed me” before he singled out Britain, which he said had once been considered “the Rolls-Royce of allies.”
Meanwhile, the British spokesperson’s statement on Friday called for “urgent de-escalation and a swift resolution to the war.”
The authorisation now expands Britain’s involvement in the Middle East conflict beyond defensive operations. The UK previously limited its participation to intercepting Iranian missiles and drones threatening British military assets and allies in the region.
In response to what Iran tagged “agression “ it has effectively halted oil passage through the Strait of Hormuz, sparking a global energy crisis as the waterway serves as the route for roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies.
The conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel enters its fourth week with casualties mounting on both sides.