text: who was the nigeria president before president olusegun obasanjo?   general murtala ramat mohammed (november 8, 1938–february 13, 1976) was a military ruler (head of the federal military government) of nigeria (1975–1976).  mohammed opposed the regime of johnson aguiyi-ironsi which took power after a coup d'etat on january 15, 1966, and he was a leader of the successful counter-coup of july 29, 1966. mohammed led the crucial seizure of the airport at ikeja, which was later renamed the murtala mohammed international airport in his honor. he at first intended to use the coup as a step towards the secession of northern nigeria, but later dropped this demand.