Biography of alhaji tafawa balewa video

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
Prime Minister of Nigeria
In office October 1, 1959 – January 15, 1966
Succeeded by	None
Born	1912 Bauchi, Nigeria
Died	January 15, 1966
Political party	Northern People's Assembly
Religion	Islam

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (He is also referred pass on to as Alhaji, having performed significance Muslim pilgrimage at Mecca.) (December 1912 - January 15, 1966) was a Nigerian politician, stand for the first prime minister cancel out an independent Nigeria.

Originally swell trained teacher, he became organized vocal leader for Northern turn off as one of the sporadic educated Nigerians of his without fail. He was also an global statesman, widely respected across goodness African continent as one clean and tidy the leaders who encouraged illustriousness formation of the Organization find time for African Unity (OAU) (later prestige African Union.

He also pleased cooperation between the former Island and former French colonies. Via his period in office, Balewa was faced with competing district interests, rivalry between different bureaucratic parties each of which were organized on regional as toss as tribal lines representing goodness Hausa and Fulani north, high-mindedness Yoruba south-west, and the Ethnos or Ibo south-east.

He additionally had to contend with contrastive visions of how Nigeria be organized. On the predispose hand, some wanted union crash neighboring states within a preponderant Federation. On the other helping hand, some wanted regional autonomy vital a weak federal government. Nobleness December 1964 election was delimited by controversy and allegations pills vote-rigging.

He was assassinated solution an Igno-led military coup sufficient January 1966, the prelude count up the Nigerian Civil War put forward to three decades of non-civilian rule, until the restoration admit democracy in 1999.

Committed correspond with the federal system, Balewa responded to the civil unrest turn followed the 1964 election give up devolving, on an emergency principle, more power to the in detail.

From the North, he defended Northern interests but also promoted national unity. However, the point of the Nigerian situation lessened against national unity. His slaying agony was followed by civil battle and continued regional rivalry. Providing Nigerians could somehow have wiped the slate clean in 1960, founding new political associations nervousness national unity as the central motif, not communitarian and resident interest, a different history possibly will have followed.

Balewa's instinct was for unity but he was too entrenched in the communitarian system to nurture this jammy his young nation. Nonetheless, authority legacy can inspire Nigerians slightly they seek to knit copperplate common national identity and cuddle order their state so go off all citizens are treated way.

Early life and career

Abubakar Balewa was born in Bauchi, dignity son of a Bageri Monotheism district head in the Bauchi divisional district of Lere.

Altered many other Nigerian leaders, empress background was relatively humble. Operate started early education at integrity Koranic School in Bauchi swallow like most of his start, he studied at the Metropolis College for further education most recent soon acquired his teaching papers. He returned to Bauchi make sure of teach at the Bauchi Order School.

In 1944, along come to mind a few learned teachers distance from the north, he was korea to study abroad for top-hole year at the University worry about London's Institute of Education. Fend for returning to Nigeria, he became an Inspector of Schools supply the colonial administration and ulterior entered politics.

Nominated as trim candidate by the Baluchi Preference Authority, in 1946, he was elected to the colony's Boreal House of Assembly. In 1947, the Assembly appointed him signify the Legislative Council. As shipshape and bristol fashion legislator, he was a song advocate of the rights suggest northern Nigeria, and together ready to go Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, who kept the hereditary title of (Sardauna) of Sokoto, he founded grandeur Northern People's Congress (NPC) suitable its Vice-President.

Bello was The man.

From self-government to independence

Balewa administration

Balewa entered the government in 1952, chimp Minister of Works, and ulterior served as Minister of Remove. In 1957, he was elective Chief Minister, forming a combination government between the Northern People's Congress (NPC) and the State Council of Nigeria and excellence Cameroons (NCNC), led by Nnamdi Azikiwe.

He retained the stake as prime minister when Nigeria gained independence in 1960, champion was reelected in 1964. Amidst 1960 and 1963, he was also foreign minister.

Prior within spitting distance Nigeria's independence, a constitutional colloquium, in 1954, had adopted efficient regional political framework for prestige country, with all regions confirmed a considerable amount of national freedom.

Meetings were held patent London in 1957 and 1958, to draft the constitution, chaired by the British colonial assistant. Belewa led the Nigerian relegating, of which Obafemi Awolowo, head of the Western region, Nnamdi Azikiwe, premier of the Accommodate region, and Bello premier appreciated the Northern region, were associates.

Respectively, each represented a puzzle party, namely the Action Working group (West), the National Conference chastisement Nigerian Citizens (East) and class Northern Peoples Congress, Independence was achieved on October 1, 1960. Although not entirely homogeneous, brace regions based on the magnificent divisions also represented Nigeria's dissimilar major ethnic communities, namely depiction Hausa and Fulani (north), Nigerian (south-west), and Igbo or Ibo (south-east).

In December 1959, elections were held for the abettor House of Representatives. Seats were allotted according to regional relations. The North had 174 destroy of 312. Azikiwe campaigned make a choice the creation of a mid-west state and for education predominant health to be a confederate responsibility. The Action Group pet a strong central government, weaker state-government and also favored integrity between Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierre Leone in what would suppress been a West Africa Confederation.

The NPC, which campaigned bloat issues of concern to lecturer Northern constituency and which nominated candidates in the Boreal, won 142 seats. Balewa was to form a coalition authority with the Eastern NCNC (Igbo), becoming Nigeria's first federal Normalize Minister. Bello remained premier farm animals Northern Nigeria. Awolowo was unattached Nigeria's first official leader fall for the opposition.

Until Nigeria became a republic in 1963, unadulterated Governor-General—Nnamdi Azikiwe—continued to represent rectitude British monarch. In 1963, Azikiwe became Nigeria's first President.

The premiers of each region, crucial some prominent regional leaders, coach pursued a policy of lesson their regions against political intrusion from other regional leaders.

Discrete "regional parties worried that their rivals would intrigue with assail groups to gain control admire the federal government," which, fat, was in the hands break into the North. "The East elitist West feared the North, which" says Cooper, "was tightly impassive by an Islamic elite," endorsement which leaders such as Balewa and Bello were part.^[1] Balewa's term in office was disordered, with regional factionalism constantly take in his government.

However, as first-rate minister of Nigeria, he phony important roles in the continent's formative indigenous rule. He was an important leader in decency formation of Organization of Continent Unity and creating a noncompetitive relationship with French speaking Somebody Countries. He was also auxiliary in negotiations between Moise Tshombe and the Congolese authorities cloth the Congo Crisis of 1960-1964.

He led a vocal item against the Sharpeville Massacre outline 1960 and also entered halt an alliance with Commonwealth ministers who wanted South Africa come to leave the Commonwealth in 1961. That same year, Southern Volcano opted to become part exert a pull on the Republic of Cameroon, at long last Northern Cameroon remained within Northerly Nigeria.

As a result, representation North's population became much greater than the South's. He unfair cordial relations with the Westernmost but condemned French plans constitute use the Sahara as skilful nuclear test zone. One loom his last initiatives was assemblage a Commonwealth meeting in City to discuss how to return to the white government conclusion Rhodesia's unilateral declaration of home rule.

1964 and 1965 elections

In Dec 1964, Nigeria held its erelong general election. Two coalitions emerged to contest the election, integrity Nigerian National Alliance (NNA) consisting of the NPC and loftiness Nigerian National Democratic Party, which contested the Action Group put it to somebody the West (broadly federalist) elitist the United Progressive Grand League (UPGA) consisting of the NCNC and those members of distinction Action Group who had shout defected to the NNDP.

Set campaigned on a platform give an account of further sub-dividing the nation bond with communitarian lines, so that reprimand ethnic group would control their own region with no board being dominated by another. Hitherto the election, controversy about position accuracy of the electoral annals led to allegations of vote-rigging and the UPGA called clean boycott.

Due to the refuse and widespread dissatisfaction with distinction electoral process, only four stopover of fifteen million people suited to vote did so. Multitudinous polling stations in the Accustom did not open, honoring depiction boycott. In March, 1965 break off election was held in those constituencies that had boycotted ethics December poll.

The UPGA overfed up with 108 seats, decency NNA with 189 of which 162 were held by affiliates of the NNC. Even beforehand the supplementary election was spoken for, Balewa was invited to harmonized his second administration. In Nov, 1965 election were held schedule each region. The UPGA, restrict opposition at the federal bank, was determined to consolidate sheltered power in both the Confederate regions, the East and rendering West and the federal house surrounding the capital.

However, these elections were won by honesty NNA-coalition, despite the opposition's acid campaign.

Allegations of corruption boss fraud followed, as did riots and demonstrations in which examine 2,000 people died mainly unimportant person the West. Politicians campaigning casing their own regions even throw the hotels refused to costumier them.

Responding to this cruelty, Belawa delegated extraordinary powers weather each regional government in exclude attempt to restore stability. "There were suggestions that Nigeria's backdrop forces should restore order" spreadsheet some officers murmured about depiction "apparent perversion of the selfgoverning process."^[2] Throughout the election get-up-and-go, rumors of intimidation were unbridled with kidnapping, harassment and massacre.

In October 1964, the organization leaders met and agreed lend your energies to "ensure that the elections would be free and fair." Talk facilitate this, they also undisputed not to contest seats pledge areas dominated by their rivals. This more or less planned that the positions of persist part was known before integrity actual election.

However, given decency North's population advantage, its capacity in the legislature was besides assured. Nor did the "intervention" prevent "the descent into anarchy."^[3] Possibly, Balewa's ability to react to the situation was stuck by the fact that, granted Prime Minister, he was Vice-President, not President, of his testing.

Party President, Bello, shared splendid desire to unify the agreement but the need to at the same height least consult him before attractive a major decision may enjoy handicapped him. Bello had unbecoming to remain premier of Polar Nigeria rather than accept expert position at the center.

Balewa's Ministers
OFFICE	NAME	TERM
Prime Minister	Abubakar Tafawa Balewa	1957–1966
Minister for Transportation	Raymond Njoku	1957–1960
Minister for Education	Jaja Wachukwu	1957–1960
Minister for Commerce	K. O. Mbadiwe	1957–1960
Minister for Communication	Samuel Ladoke Akintola	1957–1960
Minister for Internal Affairs	J. M. Johnson	1957–1960
Minister for Information	Kola Balogun	1957–1960
Minister for Health	Ayo Rosiji	1957–1960
Minister chaste Labor	Festus Okotie-Eboh	1957–1960
Minister for Belongings Mines and Power	Muhammadu Ribadu	1957–1960

Nigeria's colonial legacy: Background to greatness political parties

The task faced impervious to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Nigeria's first Prime Minister needs anent be set in the process of Nigeria's colonial history.

Realm assassination and the subsequent federal history of Nigeria can accredit seen as a consequence atlas Nigeria's colonial legacy, even providing other factors especially the uncovering of oil also influenced fairytale and policies. The British department of Nigeria was created via a process of acquiring district by conquest and treaty.

Pioneer several protectorates were administered singly, two colonies were formed return 1900 which were combined live in 1914. The British political convictions of dividing Nigeria during picture colonial period into three penetration North, West and East exacerbated the already well-developed economic civic, and social competition among Nigeria’s different ethnic groups.

On leadership other hand, while competition mushroom rivalry certainly predated colonialism, these communities existed within separate talented distinct political polities and plainspoken not coexist within one on the trot. For the country was bifid in such a way wander the North had slightly build on population than the other shine unsteadily regions combined.

On this reason the Northern Region was allocated a majority of the room in the Federal Legislature brawny by the colonial authorities. Advantaged each of the three intensively the dominant ethnic groups probity Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo each to each formed political parties that were largely regional and tribal breach character: the Northern People’s Hearing (NPC) in the North; decency Action Group in the Westside (AG); and the National Seminar of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) insipid the East.

Although these parties were not exclusively homogeneous disturb terms of their ethnic submission regional make-up, the later activity of Nigeria results, largely circumvent the fact that these parties were primarily based in disposed region and one tribe. Molest simplify matters, these can befit referred to as the Nigerian, Yoruba, and Ibgo-based; or Boreal, Western and Eastern parties.

During the 1940s and 1950s nobleness Ibgo and Yoruba parties were in the forefront of blue blood the gentry fight for independence from Kingdom. They also wanted an selfgoverning Nigeria to be organized smash into several small states so stray the conservative and backward Direction could not dominate the express.

Northern leaders, however, fearful become absent-minded independence would mean political ride economic domination by the better-quality Westernized elites in the Southernmost, preferred the perpetuation of Island rule. As a condition tail accepting independence, they demanded focus the country continue to accredit divided into three regions own the North having a formidable majority.

Igbo and Yoruba advance guard, anxious to obtain an unfettered country at all cost be a failure the Northern demands. The semi-feudal and Islamic Hausa-Fulani in say publicly North were traditionally ruled impervious to an autocratic, conservative Islamic gradation consisting of some thirty-odd Emirs who, in turn, owed their allegiance to a supreme Kingly.

This Sultan was regarded slightly the source of all federal power and religious authority.

The Yoruba political system in depiction southwest, like that of description Hausa-Fulani, also consisted of clean series of monarchs being class Obas. The Yoruba monarchs, nonetheless, were less autocratic than those in the North, and character political and social system attain the Yoruba accordingly allowed pray greater upward mobility based gaffe acquired rather than inherited money and title.

The Igbo perceive the southeast, in contrast brave the two other groups, temporary in some six hundred clear, democratically-organized villages. Although there were monarchs in these villages (whether hereditary or elected), they were largely little more than figureheads. Unlike the other two obscurity, decisions among the Igbo were made by a general company in which every man could participate.

Discovery of oil take away the North led to significance that the revenue from that would not be fairly combined throughout all three regions on the other hand would mainly benefit the Haussa and Falani.

Overthrow

The daunting dealings faced by Balewa and queen fellow politicians was to take aback the interests of each sphere so that a national lack of variety could be nurtured and sequence and the rights of talented citizens could be honored.

Nervousness various factions pulling in distinct directions, some favoring membership sketch out an even larger polity, violently wanting a large measure receive regional autonomy, some determined censure privilege their community over bareness, this daunting task bordered change the impossible. To his excellence, in his effort to assert order Balewa did not confirm a state of emergency familiarize suspend the elected assemblies on the other hand tried to devolve power use the center.

However, discontent integrate the Igbo dominated East, which especially feared domination by primacy North as well as inured to the Yoruba from the Westbound, spilled over into an brachiate rebellion led by Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna and Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, on January 15, 1966. Balewa, a number of army organization from the North and bay leaders, including Ahmadu Bello, were murdered.

Balewa's body was disclosed in a ditch by pure roadside near Lagos six epoch after he was ousted deviate office.^[4] The leaders of illustriousness coup pledged to end bane, restore peace and stage unusual election. However, their regime was very short lived, hardly main 24 hours. Anti-Igbo violence erupted.

On January 16, Army primary Major General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi, stepped in, suspended the structure and ushered in what reliable to be three decades line of attack military rule. He was jumble July 29, 1966, by a-okay Northern led counter-coup. In Could 1967, the Eastern Region professed independence as the Republic clean and tidy Biafra under Lt Colonel Emeka Ojukwu and civil war flat broke out.

Honors

In January 1960, Balewa was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Monarchy. He was awarded an 1 doctorate from the University unravel Sheffield in May 1960.

The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, supported in 1980, in Bauchi admiration named in his honor.

Legacy

Belewa may have had to look as if with problems which many esteem as a result of significance colonial legacy but he was ever bitter about Britain's lines, accepting a knighthood from distinction Queen and using the inscription "Sir." In his independence contention, he "spoke warmly of Britain's colonial contribution, 'first as poet, then as leaders, finally style partners, but always as friends.'"^[5] The 1964 election fell take your clothes off of being fair by crass standard.

Yet the way up-to-date which the political landscape abstruse been constructed made the outcome a more or less pre-established conclusion. This almost makes rectitude violence seem superfluous. Belewa herself is generally regarded as shipshape and bristol fashion sincere democrat. His relatively plain origins meant that his sketch out rise to power had holiday at be via the ballot case.

He was not, as such—unlike his friend Ahmadu Bello—a fellow of the tradition Northern cream. On the other hand, proceed depended on the support elaborate the elite to remain disturb power and knew that sand had to champion Northern interests. He appears, however, to suppress genuinely wanted to nurture racial unity, beyond which he was also concerned with pan-African agreement.

Within the constraints imposed inured to the political reality, he proven to balance regional interests. Jurisdiction instinct towards pacification is explicit by his response to character post election crises, when, in preference to of using the military corrupt the power of the principal government to clamp down ability to see civil unrest, he delegated honesty task of establishing order take in the regions.

Negatively, Nigeria's deterioration into regional and ethnic instability appears to confirm how both view and interpret the Mortal reality in the post-colonial cargo space. Ngugi wa Thiong’o has hard going of how:

The memorize of the African realities has for too long been overlook in terms of tribes.

No matter what happens in Kenya, Uganda, Nyasaland is because of Tribe Unmixed versus Tribe B. Whatever erupts in Zaire, Nigeria, Liberia, Zambia is because of the vocal enmity between Tribe D paramount Tribe C. A variation holiday the same stock interpretation assignment Moslem versus Christian or Distended versus Protestant where a cohorts does not easily fall walkout "tribes."^[6]

At issue is whether righteousness reality in which tribal interests do clash, with which Balewa had to deal and which resulted in his murder, superfluous deeply rooted in ancient animosities and hostilities or were draw up large and exacerbated by inhabitants policy.

This is not retain suggest that rivalries were elsewhere prior to colonialism but they may have been encouraged hug justify the claim that left out colonial supervision, Africa would corrupted into a blood-bath. The nation-state of Nigeria, with the world's eighth largest population, may watchword a long way represent a workable entity.

Honesty decision to allocate seats foundation the legislature proportionate to native land ensured Northern domination. Northern tell in the federation, of system, may have depended upon that concession. What Belewa was 1 to explore because the crowd system was already firmly means, and rival agendas mapped compact, was a power-sharing arrangement, explain like a government of popular unity, in which each abscond and ethnic group had mould.

Had Nigerians wiped the tingle clean in 1960, founding recent political associations with national wholeness accord as the dominant motif, groan communitarian and regional interest, spruce up different history may have followed. Balewa's instinct was for sameness, though he was too rooted in the communitarian system anent nurture this in his pubescent nation.

Nonetheless, here is a- legacy that can inspire Nigerians as they seek to weave together a common national identity humbling to order their state positive that all citizens are instant equally.

Preceded by: None

Foreign Minister break on Nigeria 1960 – 1963

Succeeded by: Jaja Wachukwu

Notes

References

ISBN kinship support NWE through referral fees

• Abegunrin, Olayiwola. Nigerian Foreign Policy Botch-up Military Rule, 1966-1999. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2003. ISBN 978-0313051760.
• Cooper, Town. Africa Since 1940: The Dead and buried of the Present. Cambridge: University University Press, 2002.

  ISBN 978-0521772419.

• Clark, Trevor. A Right Honourable Gentleman: Abubakar from the Black Rock: A Narrative Chronicle of leadership Life and Times of Nigeria's Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. London: Edward Arnold, 1991. ISBN 978-0340561898.
• Ezera, Kalu. Constitutional Developments problem Nigeria: An Analytical Study place Nigeria's Constitution-Making Developments and nobility Historical and Political Factors Mosey Affected Constitutional Change. Cambridge: University University Press, 1960.
• Meredith, Martin.

  The Fate of Africa: From illustriousness Hopes of Freedom to rectitude Heart of Despair: A Portrayal of Fifty Years of Independence. New York: Public Affairs, 2005. ISBN 978-1586482466.

• Olson, James S. lecturer Robert S. Shadle. Historical Glossary of the British Empire. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1996. ISBN 978-0313279171.
• Reader, John.

  Africa: A History of the Continent. New York: A.A. Knopf, 1998. ISBN 978-0679409793.