A Civilian Route to Nigeria’s Highest Office- Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, K.B.E, M.P was Nigeria’s First and ONLY Prime Minister (1957–1966).
His Early Life
Born on October 1, 1912 in the village of Tafawa Balewa, in modern-day Bauchi State.
Attended Quranic school and Bauchi Provincial School (Western Education). He enrolled at Katsina Training College (1928–1933) and Performed well in the English Language Subject, which led him to become the Headmaster of Bauchi Middle School. This better placed him to obtain a Scholarship to study History at the University of London’s Institute of Education (1945–1946).
In 1946, the Bauchi Native Authority selected Him as a Representative to the Northern House of Assembly, and thereafter selected to become a member of the Nigerian Legislative Council where he gave a famous and impassioned speech calling for a radical change in the Native Administration and its relations with Great Britain.
Between 1952 and 1957, He held several Public Offices such as Minister of Works, Minister of Transport, Senior Minister, Leader of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) in the House of Representatives and later First Prime Minister of Nigeria.
The Turning Point
In 1951, He alongside Alhaji Ahmadu Bello formed the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) Political Party to represent the Muslim Majority in the Northern Region.
The NPC Objectives included;
- Pursue Regional Autonomy for the North.
- Educate Northerners on their Political & Civil Responsibilities.
- Present a Common Front for the Northern Region in National Politics.
In December 1959, Parliamentary Elections were held, the NPC won 134 out of the 312 Seats in the House of Representatives. This was not enough to secure a Majority, and it led the NPC to form a coalition with Five other Parties and Two Independents, therefore holding a total of 148 Seats to win a Majority in the House.
Voter Turnout was 79.5%. This Election led to forming Nigeria’s First Indegenious Federal Government which led to Independence from Britain.
The Opportunity to become Prime Minister was presented to Tafawa Balewa when Sir Ahmadu Bello (Leader of the NPC) devolved the position of Prime Minister of the Federation to the Office of the Deputy President of the NPC, an office Tafawa Balewa occupied.
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