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Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi

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This article is about the local government area. For the person, see Tafawa Balewa.
Tafawa Balewa
LGA and town
Country Nigeria
StateBauchi State
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)

Tafawa Balewa is a local government area in the Southern part of Bauchi State in northern Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Tafawa Balewa.

"Tafawa Balewa village takes its name from two corrupted Fulani words: "Tafari" (rock) and Baleri (black)."[1]

The area has been known for sectarian and ethnic violence over the years.[2][3] The major ethnic groups are the Seyawa and Hausa/Fulani.[4][5][6][7] 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."[8]

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.[9]

In 2011, 38 people died in violence that began after an argument in a snooker hall, and Kuturu, Malanchi, Gongo, Gumel, and Gital villages were burned down in a reprisal attack.[10][11]

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.[12]

In 2012, "the state government through the House of Assembly finally resolved to relocate the headquarters of the local government to Bununu town."[13][7][14] 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.[15] 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.[16] 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."[17][18] 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."[19]

The Saya language is spoken in Tafawa Balewa LGA.[20]

Notable residents

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born in December 1912 in Tafawa Balewa village.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Siollun, Max (2009-10-22). "Nigeria's Forgotten Heroes: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Part 1)". Nigerians in America. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  2. ^ Minchakpu, Obed (2010). "Christian Leaders in Nigeria Call Bauchi Violence Premeditated". ChristianNewsToday. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  3. ^ "The Traditional Status of Tafawa Balewa Town". Al'umma Unity and Development Association. 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  4. ^ DYIKUK, Fr. Justine John (2012-07-10). "Abubakar And Tafawa Balewa Town: A Tale Of Two Titans!". IndepthAfrica. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  5. ^ Abdulwahab Muhammad (2011-05-07). "Attackers kill 16, burn homes in north Nigeria town". Mail & Guardian - News. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  6. ^ Obed Minchakpu (2011). "Christian Communities near Town in Nigeria Disappearing". Compass Direct News. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  7. ^ a b "CONTROVERSY TRAILS SHIFT OF LG HQTRS IN BAUCHI". NBF News. 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  8. ^ "16 die, 20 houses burnt down in northern Nigeria". Fox News. 2011-05-06. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  9. ^ AUGUSTINE ADAH (2013-07-23). "Will relocation of Tafawa Balewa LG headquarters guarantee peace?". Hallmark. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  10. ^ Ishola Micheal (2011-03-11). "Fulani men, allegedly dressed in black, burn 5 villages, kill 5 in Bauchi State". Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  11. ^ Suzan Edeh (2011-03-14). "Tafawa Balewa: Residents blame govt for attack by herdsmen". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  12. ^ Suzan Edeh (2011-02-01). "Hot spot: Yuguda threatens to demolish Tafawa Balewa town -". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  13. ^ Suzan Edeh (2012-05-01). "Relocation of council headquarters sparks off uproar -". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  14. ^ Paul Orude (2012-02-16). "ArewaReport: Controversy trails shift of LG hqtrs in Bauchi - Lawmakers, lawyers trade words". The Sun News On-line. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  15. ^ "Bauchi leaders protest relocation of council headquarters". NigeriaTrends. 2012-02-09. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  16. ^ Segun Adebowale (2013-04-24). "HURIWA faults continued suspension of Bauchi Assembly only female member". The Eagle Online - The Nigerian Online Newspaper. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  17. ^ NBF News (2012-05-08). "… AS COMMUNITIES QUERY LOCAL GOVT'S RELOCATION". Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  18. ^ Bulus Gambo (2013-08-19). "This Yuguda's tenacious frolics of persecution". Sunday Standard. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  19. ^ Onwuka Nzeshi (2013-07-15). "Lawmaker Accuses Bauchi Govt of Constitutional Breaches, Articles". THISDAY LIVE. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  20. ^ Saya at Ethnologue

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