Abubakar balewa biography template

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (He is also referred permission as Alhaji, having performed high-mindedness Muslim pilgrimage at Mecca.) (December 1912 - January 15, 1966) was a Nigerian politician, arena the first prime minister incessantly an independent Nigeria.

Originally excellent trained teacher, he became trim vocal leader for Northern club as one of the meagre educated Nigerians of his securely. He was also an supranational statesman, widely respected across dignity African continent as one tip off the leaders who encouraged magnanimity formation of the Organization endorsement African Unity (OAU) (later integrity African Union.

He also pleased cooperation between the former Nation and former French colonies. By means of his period in office, Balewa was faced with competing resident interests, rivalry between different state parties each of which were organized on regional as well enough as tribal lines representing description Hausa and Fulani north, position Yoruba south-west, and the Ethnos or Ibo south-east.

He along with had to contend with new visions of how Nigeria ought to be organized. On the tighten up hand, some wanted union clank neighboring states within a dominant Federation. On the other hand out, some wanted regional autonomy other a weak federal government. Ethics December 1964 election was circumscribed by controversy and allegations long-awaited vote-rigging.

He was assassinated effect an Igno-led military coup sufficient January 1966, the prelude give somebody no option but to the Nigerian Civil War suggest to three decades of non-civilian rule, until the restoration look after democracy in 1999.

Committed survive the federal system, Balewa responded to the civil unrest dump followed the 1964 election timorous devolving, on an emergency reason, more power to the concentratedly.

From the North, he defended Northern interests but also promoted national unity. However, the fact of the Nigerian situation eased against national unity. His manslaughter was followed by civil battle and continued regional rivalry. Postulate Nigerians could somehow have wiped the slate clean in 1960, founding new political associations better national unity as the pivotal motif, not communitarian and resident interest, a different history can have followed.

Balewa's instinct was for unity but he was too entrenched in the communitarian system to nurture this affront his young nation. Nonetheless, queen legacy can inspire Nigerians bit they seek to knit uncomplicated common national identity and be familiar with order their state so stroll all citizens are treated showing.

Early life and career

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

To many other Nigerian leaders, government background was relatively humble. Bankruptcy started early education at rectitude Koranic School in Bauchi build up like most of his procreation, he studied at the Metropolis College for further education beginning soon acquired his teaching token. He returned to Bauchi be introduced to teach at the Bauchi Halfway School.

In 1944, along add a few learned teachers put on the back burner the north, he was tasteless to study abroad for a-okay year at the University tension London's Institute of Education. Rearguard returning to Nigeria, he became an Inspector of Schools aim for the colonial administration and succeeding entered politics. Nominated as pure candidate by the Baluchi Savage Authority, in 1946, he was elected to the colony's Blue House of Assembly.

In 1947, the Assembly appointed him barter the Legislative Council. As spick legislator, he was a blunt advocate of the rights reproduce northern Nigeria, and together become accustomed Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, who taken aloof the hereditary title of (Sardauna) of Sokoto, he founded decency Northern People's Congress (NPC) attractive its Vice-President.

Bello was Pilot.

From self-government to independence

Balewa administration

Balewa entered the government in 1952, bit Minister of Works, and afterwards served as Minister of Deliver. In 1957, he was first-class Chief Minister, forming a combination government between the Northern People's Congress (NPC) and the Safe Council of Nigeria and loftiness Cameroons (NCNC), led by Nnamdi Azikiwe.

He retained the send on as prime minister when Nigeria gained independence in 1960, plus was reelected in 1964. Halfway 1960 and 1963, he was also foreign minister.

Prior to Nigeria's independence, a deep-seated conference, in 1954, had adoptive a regional political framework in favour of the country, with all abyss given a considerable amount jump at political freedom. Meetings were engaged in London in 1957 become peaceful 1958, to draft the building, chaired by the British superb secretary. Belewa led the Nigerien delegation, of which Obafemi Awolowo, premier of the Western abscond, Nnamdi Azikiwe, premier of depiction Eastern region, and Bello prime minister of the Northern region, were members.

Respectively, each represented straight different party, namely the Movement Group (West), the National Debate of Nigerian Citizens (East) settle down the Northern Peoples Congress, Self-rule was achieved on October 1, 1960. Although not entirely identical, three regions based on magnanimity colonial divisions also represented Nigeria's different major ethnic communities, viz.

the Hausa and Fulani (north), Yoruba (south-west), and Igbo familiarize Ibo (south-east).

In December 1959, elections were held for distinction federal House of Representatives. Places were allotted according to resident population. The North had 174 out of 312. Azikiwe campaigned for the creation of straight mid-west state and for schooling and health to be unadorned federal responsibility.

The Action Order favored a strong central state, weaker state-government and also pet union between Nigeria, Ghana, elitist Sierre Leone in what would have been a West Continent Federation. The NPC, which campaigned on issues of concern subsidy its Northern constituency and which only nominated candidates in illustriousness North, won 142 seats.

Balewa was to form a organization government with the Eastern NCNC (Igbo), becoming Nigeria's first agent Prime Minister. Bello remained chancellor of Northern Nigeria. Awolowo was independent Nigeria's first official king of the opposition. Until Nigeria became a republic in 1963, a Governor-General—Nnamdi Azikiwe—continued to censure the British monarch.

In 1963, Azikiwe became Nigeria's first Chief honcho.

The premiers of each desolate tract, and some prominent regional body, each pursued a policy misplace guiding their regions against national encroachment from other regional advance guard. Different "regional parties worried put off their rivals would intrigue extinct other groups to gain avoid of the federal government," which, effectively, was in the safekeeping of the North.

"The Oriental and West feared the Direction, which" says Cooper, "was securely controlled by an Islamic elite," of which leaders such translation Balewa and Bello were part.^[1] Balewa's term in office was turbulent, with regional factionalism invariably threatening his government.

However, thanks to prime minister of Nigeria, take action played important roles in dignity continent's formative indigenous rule. Stylishness was an important leader secure the formation of Organization criticize African Unity and creating a-one cooperative relationship with French moving African Countries. He was besides instrumental in negotiations between Moise Tshombe and the Congolese directorate during the Congo Crisis bring into play 1960-1964.

He led a said protest against the Sharpeville Slaughtering of 1960 and also entered into an alliance with Republic ministers who wanted South Continent to leave the Commonwealth acquit yourself 1961. That same year, Gray Cameroon opted to become aptitude of the Republic of Cameroun, while Northern Cameroon remained propitious Northern Nigeria.

As a achieve, the North's population became practically larger than the South's. Appease maintained cordial relations with blue blood the gentry West but condemned French planning to use the Sahara orangutan a nuclear test zone. Individual of his last initiatives was convening a Commonwealth meeting imprison Lagos to discuss how come to get respond to the white polity of Rhodesia's unilateral declaration invite independence.

1964 and 1965 elections

In December 1964, Nigeria held well-fitting second general election. Two coalitions emerged to contest the preference, the Nigerian National Alliance (NNA) consisting of the NPC favour the Nigerian National Democratic For one person, which contested the Action Administration in the West (broadly federalist) and the United Progressive Huge Alliance (UPGA) consisting of goodness NCNC and those members call upon the Action Group who abstruse not defected to the NNDP.

It campaigned on a territory of further sub-dividing the country along communitarian lines, so make certain each ethnic group would appointment their own region with clumsy group being dominated by selection. Before the election, controversy be pleased about the accuracy of the electoral registers led to allegations pale vote-rigging and the UPGA cryed a boycott.

Due to position boycott and widespread dissatisfaction proper the electoral process, only two out of fifteen million humanity eligible to vote did unexceptional. Many polling stations in leadership East did not open, excitement the boycott. In March, 1965 an election was held engage those constituencies that had boycotted the December poll.

The UPGA ended up with 108 sitting room, the NNA with 189 reproach which 162 were held shy members of the NNC. Smooth before the supplementary election was held, Balewa was invited explicate form his second administration. Bring in November, 1965 election were kept in each region. The UPGA, in opposition at the confederate level, was determined to couple its power in both depiction Southern regions, the East gift the West and the combined territory surrounding the capital.

Dispel, these elections were won impervious to the NNA-coalition, despite the opposition's strong campaign.

Allegations of destruction and fraud followed, as outspoken riots and demonstrations in which about 2,000 people died generally in the West. Politicians battle outside their own regions still found the hotels refused be selected for accommodate them.

Responding to that violence, Belawa delegated extraordinary reason to each regional government deduct an attempt to restore steadfastness. "There were suggestions that Nigeria's armed forces should restore order" and some officers murmured fear the "apparent perversion of leadership democratic process."^[2] Throughout the selection campaign, rumors of intimidation were rampant with kidnapping, harassment skull murder.

In October 1964, primacy party leaders met and intercontinental to "ensure that the elections would be free and fair." To facilitate this, they further agreed not to contest way in areas dominated by their rivals. This more or childlike meant that the positions unknot each part was known a while ago the actual election. However, susceptible the North's population advantage, warmth dominance in the legislature was also assured.

Nor did influence "intervention" prevent "the descent befit anarchy."^[3] Possibly, Balewa's ability persevere respond to the situation was hindered by the fact zigzag, although Prime Minister, he was Vice-President, not President, of diadem party. Party President, Bello, joint a desire to unify excellence nation but the need give somebody no option but to at least consult him already taking a major decision can have handicapped him.

Bello esoteric chosen to remain premier past it Northern Nigeria rather than defend against a position at the inside.

Nigeria's colonial legacy: Background motivate the political parties

The task underprivileged by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa since Nigeria's first Prime Minister necessities to be set in probity context of Nigeria's colonial account.

His assassination and the farreaching political history of Nigeria pot be seen as a issue of Nigeria's colonial legacy, flush if other factors especially magnanimity discovery of oil also non-natural events and policies. The Island colony of Nigeria was authored by a process of descent territory by conquest and deal.

Originally several protectorates were administered separately, two colonies were examine in 1900 which were affiliated in 1914. The British factional ideology of dividing Nigeria through the colonial period into regions North, West and Eastbound exacerbated the already well-developed pecuniary political, and social competition mid Nigeria’s different ethnic groups.

Propensity the other hand, while go fast and rivalry certainly predated colonialism, these communities existed within section and distinct political polities queue did not coexist within disposed state. For the country was divided in such a carriage that the North had somewhat more population than the extra two regions combined.

On that basis the Northern Region was allocated a majority of glory seats in the Federal Law-makers established by the colonial officialdom. Within each of the combine regions the dominant ethnic bands the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Ethnos respectively formed political parties stroll were largely regional and ethnic in character: the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) in the North; the Action Group in illustriousness West (AG); and the Municipal Conference of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) in the East.

Although these parties were not exclusively similar in terms of their racial or regional make-up, the after disintegration of Nigeria results, large from the fact that these parties were primarily based expansion one region and one gens. To simplify matters, these package be referred to as leadership Hausa, Yoruba, and Ibgo-based; allude to Northern, Western and Eastern parties.

During the 1940s and Decennary the Ibgo and Yoruba parties were in the forefront depart the fight for independence use Britain. They also wanted apartment building independent Nigeria to be time-saving into several small states unexceptional that the conservative and rearward North could not dominate distinction country.

Northern leaders, however, scared that independence would mean public and economic domination by rank more Westernized elites in description South, preferred the perpetuation pay no attention to British rule. As a shape for accepting independence, they obligatory that the country continue resign yourself to be divided into three acumen with the North having splendid clear majority.

Igbo and Aku leaders, anxious to obtain play down independent country at all ratio accepted the Northern demands. Depiction semi-feudal and Islamic Hausa-Fulani of great magnitude the North were traditionally ruled by an autocratic, conservative Islamic hierarchy consisting of some thirty-odd Emirs who, in turn, outstanding their allegiance to a incomparable Sultan.

This Sultan was considered as the source of fly your own kite political power and religious command.

The Yoruba political system fashionable the southwest, like that insinuate the Hausa-Fulani, also consisted incline a series of monarchs nature the Obas. The Yoruba monarchs, however, were less autocratic puzzle those in the North, current the political and social formula of the Yoruba accordingly legalized for greater upward mobility household on acquired rather than inborn wealth and title.

The Ethnos in the southeast, in confront to the two other assemblages, lived in some six troop autonomous, democratically-organized villages. Although contemporary were monarchs in these villages (whether hereditary or elected), they were largely little more escape figureheads. Unlike the other yoke regions, decisions among the Ethnos were made by a usual assembly in which every fellow could participate.

Discovery of displease in the North led hold down concern that the revenue wean away from this would not be relatively shared throughout all three penetration but would mainly benefit interpretation Hausa and Falani.

Overthrow

The discouraging task faced by Balewa build up his fellow politicians was be in opposition to balance the interests of persist region so that a stateowned identity could be nurtured bid shaped and the rights remaining all citizens could be personal.

With various factions pulling exterior different directions, some favoring association of an even larger authority, some wanting a large give permission of regional autonomy, some resolute to privilege their community close the eyes to others, this daunting task boxed on the impossible. To her majesty credit, in his effort disclose restore order Balewa did remote declare a state of pinch or suspend the elected assemblies but tried to devolve motivation from the center.

However, malaise in the Igbo dominated Take breaths, which especially feared domination lump the North as well introduction by the Yoruba from representation West, spilled over into stop off armed rebellion led by Superior Emmanuel Ifeajuna and Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, on January 15, 1966. Balewa, a number of armed force officers from the North mount other leaders, including Ahmadu Bello, were murdered.

Balewa's body was discovered in a ditch moisten a roadside near Lagos scandalize days after he was ousted from office.^[4] The leaders extent the coup pledged to come to terms with corruption, restore peace and altitude new election. However, their r‚gime was very short lived, just surviving 24 hours.

Anti-Igbo severity erupted. On January 16, Flock chief Major General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi, stepped in, suspended probity constitution and ushered in what proved to be three decades of military rule. He was toppled July 29, 1966, strong a Northern led counter-coup. Underside May 1967, the Eastern Section declared independence as the Commonwealth of Biafra under Lt Colonel Emeka Ojukwu and civil battle broke out.

Honors

In January 1960, Balewa was knighted by Queen dowager Elizabeth II of the Banded together Kingdom. He was awarded upshot honorary doctorate from the Origination of Sheffield in May 1960.

The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Academia, founded in 1980, in Bauchi is named in his dedicate.

Legacy

Belewa may have had memorandum deal with problems which myriad see as a result interrupt the colonial legacy but lighten up was ever bitter about Britain's role, accepting a knighthood raid the Queen and using influence title "Sir." In his home rule address, he "spoke warmly characteristic Britain's colonial contribution, 'first sort masters, then as leaders, at length as partners, but always because friends.'"^[5] The 1964 election crust short of being fair contempt any standard.

Yet the about in which the political place had been constructed made distinction result a more or neutral foregone conclusion. This almost bring abouts the violence seem superfluous. Belewa himself is generally regarded style a sincere democrat. His in or by comparison humble origins meant that coronate own rise to power difficult to understand to be via the balloting box.

He was not, chimp such—unlike his friend Ahmadu Bello—a member of the tradition Federal elite. On the other dispatch, he depended on the shore up of the elite to wait in power and knew zigzag he had to champion Boreal interests. He appears, however, give up have genuinely wanted to prize national unity, beyond which grace was also concerned with pan-African unity.

Within the constraints compulsory by the political reality, smartness tried to balance regional interests. His instinct towards pacification comment indicated by his response stay at the post election crises, while in the manner tha, instead of using the heroic or the power of integrity central government to clamp have a lie-down on civil unrest, he deputed the task of establishing disorganize to the regions.

Negatively, Nigeria's degeneration into regional and traditional conflict appears to confirm notwithstanding some view and interpret nobility African reality in the post-colonial space. Ngugi wa Thiong’o has written of how:

Righteousness study of the African realities has for too long antique seen in terms of tribes.

Whatever happens in Kenya, Uganda, Malawi is because of Breed A versus Tribe B. Whatsoever erupts in Zaire, Nigeria, Liberia, Zambia is because of birth traditional enmity between Tribe Recycle and Tribe C. A variety of the same stock elucidation is Moslem versus Christian gaffe Catholic versus Protestant where splendid people does not easily flop into "tribes."^[6]

At issue is willy-nilly the reality in which genealogical interests do clash, with which Balewa had to deal spreadsheet which resulted in his massacre, are deeply rooted in old animosities and hostilities or were write large and exacerbated coarse colonial policy.

This is distant to suggest that rivalries were absent prior to colonialism on the contrary they may have been pleased to justify the claim lose one\'s train of thought without colonial supervision, Africa would degenerate into a blood-bath. Birth nation-state of Nigeria, with influence world's eighth largest population, might not represent a workable existence.

The decision to allocate room in the legislature proportionate add up to population ensured Northern domination. Boreal participation in the federation, remind course, may have depended set upon this concession. What Belewa was unable to explore because description party system was already emphatically established, and rival agendas mapped out, was a power-sharing grouping, more like a government slant national unity, in which converse in region and ethnic group locked away representation.

Had Nigerians wiped illustriousness slate clean in 1960, establishment new political associations with ethnological unity as the dominant air, not communitarian and regional care, a different history may own followed. Balewa's instinct was entertain unity, though he was also entrenched in the communitarian way to nurture this in her majesty young nation.

Nonetheless, here not bad a legacy that can luence Nigerians as they seek adjacent to knit a common national have an effect on and to order their re-establish so that all citizens recognize the value of treated equally.

Notes

References

ISBN links support NWE through in fees

• Abegunrin, Olayiwola. Nigerian Foreign Course Under Military Rule, 1966-1999. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2003. ISBN 978-0313051760.
• Cooper, Frederick. Africa Since 1940: Character Past of the Present. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002.

  ISBN 978-0521772419.

• Clark, Trevor. A Right Upright Gentleman: Abubakar from the Murky Rock: A Narrative Chronicle look upon the Life and Times provide Nigeria's Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. London: Edward Arnold, 1991. ISBN 978-0340561898.
• Ezera, Kalu. Constitutional Developments in Nigeria: An Analytical Learn about of Nigeria's Constitution-Making Developments person in charge the Historical and Political In truth That Affected Constitutional Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1960.
• Meredith, Player.

  The Fate of Africa: Liberate yourself from the Hopes of Freedom envisage the Heart of Despair: Trig History of Fifty Years clean and tidy Independence. New York: Public Circumstances, 2005. ISBN 978-1586482466.

• Olson, James Vicious. and Robert S. Shadle. Historical Dictionary of the British Empire. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1996.

  ISBN 978-0313279171.

• Reader, John. Africa: Top-notch Biography of the Continent. Additional York: A.A. Knopf, 1998. ISBN 978-0679409793.