Everything about the rule of Brigadier General Murtala Muhammad happened quickly. On his first day in power, he fired the governors of the 12 states established under the ousted Gowon.

He also pledged a swift return to civilian and constitutional rule. He followed up his promise with a landmark four-year road map to democracy on October 1, 1975. His aggressive reforms, however, infuriated his military colleagues. Less than seven months into his administration, he was assassinated in February 1976.