Olusegun Obasanjo

=== Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters: 1975–76 ===
In October 1975, the government announced plans for an election which would result in civilian rule in October 1979.{{sfnm|1a1=Iliffe|1y=2011|1p=45|2a1=Derfler|2y=2011|2p=82}} It also declared plans to create a committee to draft a new constitution, with Obasanjo largely responsible for selecting the 49 committee members.{{sfn|Iliffe|2011|p=45}} On the recommendation of the [[Irifeke Commission]], the government also announced the creation of seven new states;{{sfn|Iliffe|2011|pp=45, 48}} at Obasanjo's insistence, Abeokuta was to become the capital of one of these new states, [[Ogun State|Ogun]].{{sfnm|1a1=Iliffe|1y=2011|1pp=45, 48|2a1=Derfler|2y=2011|2p=83}} Also on the commission's recommendation, it announced gradual plans to move the Nigerian capital from Lagos to the more central Abuja.{{sfnm|1a1=Iliffe|1y=2011|1p=48|2a1=Derfler|2y=2011|2p=83}} In January 1976, both Obasanjo and Danjuma were promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant General.{{sfn|Iliffe|2011|p=48}}

Both Murtala and Obasanjo were committed to ending ongoing European colonialism and white minority rule in southern [[Africa]], a cause reflected in their foreign policy choices.{{sfnm|1a1=Iliffe|1y=2011|1p=46|2a1=Derfler|2y=2011|2p=83}} This cause increasingly became a preoccupation for Obasanjo.{{sfn|Iliffe|2011|p=47}} After [[Angola]] secured independence from Portugal, [[Angolan Civil War|a civil war broke out in the country]]. Nigeria recognised the legitimacy of the government declared by the [[MPLA]], a [[Marxism|Marxist]] group backed by the [[Soviet Union]], because the rival [[National Liberation Front of Angola|FNLA]] and [[UNITA]] were being assisted by the white minority government in South Africa.{{sfnm|1a1=Iliffe|1y=2011|1pp=46–47|2a1=Derfler|2y=2011|2p=94}} As well as providing material aid to the MPLA,{{sfn|Derfler|2011|p=94}} Nigeria began lobbying other African countries to also recognise the MPLA administration, and by early 1976 most states in the [[Organisation of African Unity]] (OAU) had done so.{{sfn|Iliffe|2011|p=47}} In February 1976, Obasanjo led a Nigerian delegation to an MPLA anniversary celebration in [[Luanda]], where he declared: "This is a symbolic date, marking the beginning of the final struggle against colonialism, imperialism and racism in Africa."{{sfn|Iliffe|2011|p=47}}