Olusegun Obasanjo

=== Coup d'état of 1975 and aftermath ===
{{main|1975 Nigerian coup d'état|Supreme Military Council of Nigeria (1966–1979)}}
In July 1975, [[1975 Nigerian coup d'état|a coup]] led by [[Shehu Musa Yar'Adua]] and [[Joseph Garba]] ousted Gowon,{{sfnm|1a1=Iliffe|1y=2011|1pp=42–43|2a1=Derfler|2y=2011|2p=81}} who fled to Britain.{{sfn|Derfler|2011|p=82}} They had not informed Obasanjo of their plans as he was known to be critical of coups as an instrument of regime change.{{sfn|Iliffe|2011|p=43}} The coup plotters wanted to replace Gowon's autocratic rule with a triumvirate of three brigadiers whose decisions could be vetoed by a Supreme Military Council. For this triumvirate, they convinced General [[Murtala Muhammed]] to become head of state, with Obasanjo as his second-in-command, and Danjuma as the third.{{sfnm|1a1=Iliffe|1y=2011|1p=43|2a1=Derfler|2y=2011|2p=81}} Historian [[John Iliffe (historian)|John Iliffe]] noted that of the triumvirate, Obasanjo was "the work-horse and the brains" and was the most eager for a return to civilian rule.{{sfn|Iliffe|2011|p=44}} Together, the triumvirate introduced austerity measures to stem inflation, established a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, replaced all military governors with new officers who reported directly to Obasanjo as Chief of Staff, and launched "Operation Deadwood" through which they fired 11,000 officials from the civil service.{{sfn|Iliffe|2011|p=44}}