He reflected on the late Murtala Muhammed, noting that security arrangements for senior leaders were unusually relaxed at the time, even though their positions carried significant risk.
He said the prevailing belief was that as long as they were doing the right thing, they would be naturally protected from danger.
Obasanjo recounted that Murtala Muhammed often travelled around Lagos without adequate protection and sometimes drove himself, a habit he now sees as highly risky.
He added that he personally warned him about the dangers and advised him to avoid moving without security escorts, especially at night.
He further admitted that he also behaved in a similar manner, using his personal car for casual evening outings without considering potential threats. He now views those actions as poor judgment influenced by a false sense of security.
According to him, their collective thinking at the time downplayed the importance of protection, as they believed they had no reason to fear harm.
However, he now considers that approach mistaken, stressing that stronger security consciousness might have prevented avoidable incidents and improved the safety of national leaders during that era.
0 Comments