Tafawa Balewa | |
|---|---|
LGA and town | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Bauchi State |
| Area | |
| • Total | 946 sq mi (2,451 km2) |
| Population (2022) [1] | |
| • Total | 395,200 |
| • Density | 420/sq mi (160/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
 | |
Tafawa Balewa is a local government area in the Southern part of Bauchi State in northern Nigeria. Its headquarters was in the town of Tafawa Balewa, but has now being shifted to Bununu town in 2011 due to constant unrest in the former.
"Tafawa Balewa village takes its name from two corrupted Fulani words: "Tafari" (rock) and Baleri (black)." [2]
The area has been known for sectarian and ethnic violence over the years. [3] [4] The major ethnic groups are the Sayawa and Hausa/Fulani. [5] [6] [7] [8] An Associated Press story states, "The Sayawas are in the majority in the town and its surrounding villages, but their traditional rulers have been of the predominantly Muslim Fulani ethnic group. The Sayawas have demanded a separate traditional ruler, which has led to attacks and counterattacks over the past two decades." [9]
Tafawa Balewa town is inhabited by Jarawa, Fulani, Hausa, Sayawa, Kanuri, Tapshinawa (angas) and other tribes. The town has been a hot-bed of communal crises that have lingered for over 50 years; as witnessed in 1948, 1959, 1977, 1991, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2011 and 2012, with hundreds of lives lost and property worth millions of naira destroyed. The bone of contention of the frequent clashes in the area has to do with the chieftaincy and ownership of Tafawa Balewa town. [10]
In 2011, 38 people died in violence that began after an argument in a snooker hall, and Kutaru, Malanchi, Gongo, Gumel, and Gital villages were burned down in a reprisal attack. [11] [12]
In 2011, Bauchi State, Governor Isa Yuguda "threatened to demolish Tafawa Balewa town with the exception of government institutions like hospitals and schools," telling residents “You should either embrace peaceful coexistence or stand the risk of total ejection from Tafawa Balewa. I shall direct the complete demolition of the town for peace to reign.” An "emergency joint stakeholders meeting of Muslims and Christians representatives of Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro local government areas" was held, and an agreement was reached. [13]
In 2012, "the state government through the House of Assembly finally resolved to relocate the headquarters of the local government to Bununu town." [14] [8] [15] Tafawa Balewa Local Council Headquarters was moved to Bununu District. The district head was moved to Zwal Village. The Sayawa Council of Elders and Traditional Rulers in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro local councils of Bauchi State condemned the relocation. [16] Hon. Rifkatu Samson Danna, representing Bogoro Constituency and the only female member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, was suspended from her post after her opposition to the decision. [17] As of 8 May 2012, Bununu lacked "several social amenities such as water, electricity, office accommodation, working materials, staffers' accommodation and lack of good access roads to the temporary local government secretariat." [18] [19] In 2013, Hon. Yakubu Dogara (PDP/Bauchi) The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on House Services, said "the attempt to relocate the headquarters of the local council from Tafawa Balewa town to Bunu was not only a contravention of the constitution but an action designed to cause disaffection among the people of the state." [20]
The Sayawa language is spoken in Tafawa Balewa LGA. [21]
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born in December 1912 in Tafawa Balewa village. [2]
In Tafawa Balewa, the dry season is partially cloudy and hot all year round, while the wet season is oppressive and overcast. The average annual temperature ranges from 59 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit, rarely falling below 54 or rising over 102. [22] [23]
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was a Nigerian politician who served as the first and only prime minister of Nigeria upon independence. A conservative Anglophile, he favoured maintaining close ties with the British. During his first few years in office as prime minister, Nigeria was a constitutional monarchy with Elizabeth II reigning as Queen of Nigeria, until Nigeria became a republic in 1963. He was both a defender of Northern special interests and an advocate of Nigerian reform and unity.
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Danladi Slim Matawal is a Nigerian distinguished Professor of ; a former Director-General & CEO, Nigerian Building & Road Research Institute (NBRRI), an agency of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. He is currently back to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi - Nigeria.
Moses Godia Shipi is a Nigerian businessman and politician. He served as a personal assistant to the former governor of Bauchi state Alh. (Dr). Malam Isa Yuguda. He got elected to serve as the national chairman of the All Blending Party (ABP) and former presidential candidate among the 79 candidate that contested to be the president of Nigeria in the 2019 Nigerian general election.
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The 2019 Bauchi State House of Assembly election was held on March 9, 2019 to elect members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly in Nigeria. All 31 seats were up for election in the Bauchi State House of Assembly.
Tafawa Balewa's tomb is the burial place of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the only Prime Minister of Nigeria, in Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital is a federal government of Nigeria teaching hospital located in Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria. The current chief medical director is Yusuf Bara Jibril.
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Fatima Ja’afar Tahir is a Nigerian Professor of Microbiology and the Vice-Chancellor of Bauchi State University since 2022. She was Acting Vice-Chancellor at the Nigerian Army University Biu, Borno State and widely recognized as the first female Professor of Microbiology to be produced by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State.
