Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi State

Tafawa Balewa
LGA and town
Interactive map of Tafawa Balewa
Country Nigeria
StateBauchi State
HeadquartersBununu
Government
 • Local Government ChairmanSama'ila Wakili Lere[1]
Area
 • Total
2,451 km2 (946 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)[2]
 • Total
395,200
 • Density161.2/km2 (417.6/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)

Tafawa BalewaListenⓘ is a town and local government area in the southern part of Bauchi State in northern Nigeria. Its headquarters was in the eponymous town, but was shifted to Bununu town in 2011 due to constant unrest in the former.

History

"Tafawa Balewa village takes its name from two corrupted Fulani words: "Tafari" (rock) and Baleri (black)."[3]

The area has been known for sectarian and ethnic violence over the years.[4][5] The major ethnic groups are the Sayawa, Hausa and Fulani .[6][7][8][9] 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."[10]

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.[11]

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.[12][13]

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 reached that the residents would remain peaceful and abide by the law.[14]

In 2012, "the state government through the House of Assembly finally resolved to relocate the headquarters of the local government to Bununu town."[15][9][16] 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.[17] 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.[18] 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."[19][20] 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."[21]

The Sayawa language is spoken in Tafawa Balewa LGA.[22]

Notable people

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born in December 1912 in Tafawa Balewa village.[3]

Climate

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 15 to 36.7 degrees Celsius (59 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit), rarely falling below 12 °C (54 °F) or rising over 39 °C (102 °F).[23][24]

References

  1. ↑ "PDP sweeps all 20 LGAs in Bauchi council poll". Daily Post. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  2. ↑ "Bauchi State: Subdivision". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  3. 1 2 Siollun, Max (22 October 2009). "Nigeria's Forgotten Heroes: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Part 1)". Nigerians in America. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  4. ↑ Minchakpu, Obed (2010). "Christian Leaders in Nigeria Call Bauchi Violence Premeditated". ChristianNewsToday. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "The Traditional Status of Tafawa Balewa Town". Al'umma Unity and Development Association. 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ↑ DYIKUK, Fr. Justine John (10 July 2012). "Abubakar And Tafawa Balewa Town: A Tale Of Two Titans!". IndepthAfrica. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  7. ↑ Abdulwahab Muhammad (7 May 2011). "Attackers kill 16, burn homes in north Nigeria town". Mail & Guardian - News. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  8. ↑ Obed Minchakpu (2011). "Christian Communities near Town in Nigeria Disappearing". Compass Direct News. Archived from the original on 31 July 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Controversy trails shift of LG hqtrs in Bauchi". NBF News. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "16 die, 20 houses burnt down in northern Nigeria". Fox News. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  11. ↑ AUGUSTINE ADAH (23 July 2013). "Will relocation of Tafawa Balewa LG headquarters guarantee peace?". Hallmark. Retrieved 21 June 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ↑ Ishola Micheal (11 March 2011). "Fulani men, allegedly dressed in black, burn 5 villages, kill 5 in Bauchi State". Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  13. ↑ Suzan Edeh (14 March 2011). "Tafawa Balewa: Residents blame govt for attack by herdsmen". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  14. ↑ Suzan Edeh (1 February 2011). "Hot spot: Yuguda threatens to demolish Tafawa Balewa town -". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  15. ↑ Suzan Edeh (1 May 2012). "Relocation of council headquarters sparks off uproar -". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  16. ↑ Paul Orude (16 February 2012). "ArewaReport: Controversy trails shift of LG hqtrs in Bauchi - Lawmakers, lawyers trade words". The Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 21 June 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  17. ↑ "Bauchi leaders protest relocation of council headquarters". NigeriaTrends. 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  18. ↑ Segun Adebowale (24 April 2013). "HURIWA faults continued suspension of Bauchi Assembly only female member". The Eagle Online - The Nigerian Online Newspaper. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  19. ↑ NBF News (8 May 2012). "… AS COMMUNITIES QUERY LOCAL GOVT'S RELOCATION". Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  20. ↑ Bulus Gambo (19 August 2013). "This Yuguda's tenacious frolics of persecution". Sunday Standard. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  21. ↑ Onwuka Nzeshi (15 July 2013). "Lawmaker Accuses Bauchi Govt of Constitutional Breaches, Articles". This Day. Retrieved 21 June 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  22. ↑ Saya at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  23. ↑ "Weather Forecast Akko - Nigeria (Gombe) : free 15 day weather forecasts". La Chaîne Météo (in French). Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  24. ↑ "Akko Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Nigeria) - Weather Spark". weatherspark.com. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
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