Late Gen. Murtala Muhammed's car attract tourists to museum.
The car in which the late General Murtala Muhammed was assassinated 35 years ago has continued to attract an average of 2,000 tourists monthly, from within and outside Nigeria.
The bullet-riddled metallic-black Mercedes Benz 230.6 car is displayed at the 54-year-old National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, alongside other historical national antiques.
Muhammed, Nigeria’s military Head of State from July 29, 1975, was assassinated by renegade soldiers led by Lt.-Col. Bukar Sukar Dimka on Feb. 13, 1976-- after less than seven months in office.
Muhammed and his Aide-de-Camp, Lt. Akintunde Akinsehinwa were murdered opposite the old Federal Secretariat, Obalende, Lagos as they were heading for Friday prayers.
The curator of the National Museum, Ronke Ashaye said the car has continued to attract the highest number of tourists, especially on days shortly before and after the yearly memorial.
Ashaye disclosed that Michelin Tyre Company Ltd had assisted in replacing the tyres of the car from time to time.
The gallery where it was initially kept became dilapidated and was closed down before we relocated the car to a new room.
The gallery became unsafe for visitors and the monument. We have now relocated it to a better place at the back of the museum with the assistance of the Ford Foundation.
The car will soon be moved to a more befitting gallery within this premises.
The well-maintained, glistering car had over 20 bullet holes with photographs and write ups on the Nigerian political history from the colonial era to date adorning the room where it is on display.
Visitors at the gallery including two Foreigners Selafsonstein Claudo from Brazil and Ulil Amri from Indonesian commended the museum for preserving the car.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have called on the government to give Muhammed’s cenotaph at the former Federal Secretariat, Ikoyi, a facelift.
The cenotaph, erected by Eti –Osa Local Government, was inaugurated on Feb. 13, 1992 by the then Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
Check shows that a mad woman now inhabits the square located within the precincts of AP filling station, with an auto mechanic workshop at the entrance.
Biodun Adeseye, a businessman,said It is an eyesore; something should be done urgently to restore the cenotaph’’.
A civil servant, who pleaded anonymity, called for the intervention of the Lagos State Government and the National Commission for Museum and Monuments in restoring the cenotaph.
The car in which the late General Murtala Muhammed was assassinated 35 years ago has continued to attract an average of 2,000 tourists monthly, from within and outside Nigeria.
The bullet-riddled metallic-black Mercedes Benz 230.6 car is displayed at the 54-year-old National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, alongside other historical national antiques.
Muhammed, Nigeria’s military Head of State from July 29, 1975, was assassinated by renegade soldiers led by Lt.-Col. Bukar Sukar Dimka on Feb. 13, 1976-- after less than seven months in office.
Muhammed and his Aide-de-Camp, Lt. Akintunde Akinsehinwa were murdered opposite the old Federal Secretariat, Obalende, Lagos as they were heading for Friday prayers.
The curator of the National Museum, Ronke Ashaye said the car has continued to attract the highest number of tourists, especially on days shortly before and after the yearly memorial.
Ashaye disclosed that Michelin Tyre Company Ltd had assisted in replacing the tyres of the car from time to time.
The gallery where it was initially kept became dilapidated and was closed down before we relocated the car to a new room.
The gallery became unsafe for visitors and the monument. We have now relocated it to a better place at the back of the museum with the assistance of the Ford Foundation.
The car will soon be moved to a more befitting gallery within this premises.
The well-maintained, glistering car had over 20 bullet holes with photographs and write ups on the Nigerian political history from the colonial era to date adorning the room where it is on display.
Visitors at the gallery including two Foreigners Selafsonstein Claudo from Brazil and Ulil Amri from Indonesian commended the museum for preserving the car.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have called on the government to give Muhammed’s cenotaph at the former Federal Secretariat, Ikoyi, a facelift.
The cenotaph, erected by Eti –Osa Local Government, was inaugurated on Feb. 13, 1992 by the then Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
Check shows that a mad woman now inhabits the square located within the precincts of AP filling station, with an auto mechanic workshop at the entrance.
Biodun Adeseye, a businessman,said It is an eyesore; something should be done urgently to restore the cenotaph’’.
A civil servant, who pleaded anonymity, called for the intervention of the Lagos State Government and the National Commission for Museum and Monuments in restoring the cenotaph.
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