As we approach May 29, 2023, and the inauguration of a new Nigerian leader and president for the most populous black nation on earth – Nigeria, we’ll begin a new series exploring the lives of past Nigerian leaders, starting with Tafawa Balewa. History provides us with a ‘painted canvas’ so we can understand the country better. Where we came from, where we’ve been and where we may be heading.
The first in the series will be about Prime minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. This great and just leader, led Nigeria immediately after independence. He provided leadership for the newly independent country. He was 48 years old when he took over the reins of power. Please read on and provide your comments if you have more on his life or any questions.
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was a Nigerian statesman who served as the first prime minister of Nigeria from 1957 to 1966. He was born on December 1912 in Bauchi, Nigeria, and was raised in a family of farmers. After receiving his early education in Bauchi, Balewa went on to attend Katsina Teacher Training College, where he trained as a teacher.
Tafawa Balewa
Balewa’s political career began in the 1940s when he joined the Northern People’s Congress, a political party that sought to promote the interests of Northern Nigeria. He quickly rose through the ranks of the party, and in 1952 he was appointed to the position of Minister of Works and Survey in the Northern Region.
In 1954, Balewa was appointed to the position of Minister of Transport and later became the Minister of Pensions in 1957. That same year, he became the first prime minister of Nigeria, following the country’s independence from British colonial rule. As prime minister, he worked to unify the diverse regions of Nigeria and promote economic development.
However, his time as prime minister was cut short by a military coup that took place on January 15, 1966. Balewa was arrested and held by the military junta, which was led by Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi. On January 20, 1966, Balewa was killed, along with several other high-ranking government officials, during a counter-coup.
The circumstances surrounding Balewa’s death remain controversial, and there have been many theories about who was responsible for his murder. Some believe that he was killed by members of the military, while others believe that he was assassinated by political rivals.
Regardless of the circumstances of his death, Tafawa Balewa is remembered as a visionary leader who worked to promote unity and progress in Nigeria. He remains an important figure in Nigerian history and is honored with several monuments and institutions named after him, including the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos and the Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi.