A feature unique to General Murtala Muhammed's Supreme Military Council as compared to that of General Yakubu Gowon was the _________

Analyze the question: The question asks what was unique to the Supreme Military Council (SMC) under Murtala Muhammed (1975-76) that was not found under Gowon (1966-75).

Background:

• Under Gowon, the SMC was the highest ruling body. It included the Head of State, the Chief of Staff (Supreme Headquarters), the military governors of the states, the heads of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), the Inspector General of Police, and the Attorney General, among others. The military governors sat on the council, so they took part in national decision-making.
• Murtala Muhammed came to power in July 1975 and restructured the SMC. He removed the military governors from the council, which reduced their influence at the centre. The council was reduced mainly to top military officers and the police chief, who stayed on it. Governors were still in charge of their states, but they were no longer members of the national policy-making body.

Checking the options:

• A. Civilians as members: false. Neither council had civilian members, since both were military bodies.
• B. Exclusion of military governors: true. This was the key change under Murtala. Under Gowon, the governors were members.
• C. Chief justice as a member: false. The Chief Justice was not a member of either council.
• D. Exclusion of the Inspector General of Police: false. The IGP remained on the council in both periods.

Answer: B. The exclusion of the military governors from the council was unique to Murtala Muhammed's SMC.

Exam tip: Remember "Gowon = governors in, Murtala = governors out." Murtala also tried to make government more efficient and centralised, so he removed the governors, who had grown powerful under Gowon.