Balewa’s Vacation in Retrospect: Remembering a Better Yesterday

Published: September 20, 2025 by Hon. Femi Kehinde, Vanguard Viewpoint.

In 1963, Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa took his only annual leave while in office—but rather than flying off to London or other global capitals, he returned to his roots. He spent that leave in Tafawa Balewa village, Bauchi State. A British photojournalist curious about this decision made the trip from Lagos (Iddo), then by train to Jos, then onward to Bauchi, and finally by taxi to the village. To his surprise, there was no grand entourage, no heavy security detail, no pomp. Even a local farmer on a donkey carrying sugarcane encountered by chance said he had "[just] dropped some sugarcane for him [Balewa]." 

In that modest home, Balewa was found sitting on a native mat, enjoying sugarcane with his children—simple, humble, unadorned by the usual trappings of power.

Legacy and Character

• Born in December 1912 in Tafawa Balewa village, Bauchi State, Balewa was of humble beginnings from the Jese ethnic group of Hausa stock. 

• His education included Bauchi Provisional School, Katsina Higher College (from 1928), and later a scholarship to the Institute of Education, University of London (1945-1946). 

• Politically, he served as Minister of Works (1952), Minister of Transport (1954), then in 1957 he became Nigeria’s first Prime Minister. 

• Despite decades in public office, he did not leave behind opulent mansions; he lived modestly in Bauchi and had a small country home in his village. 

What We Lose Today

This story becomes more than nostalgic hygiene—it offers sharp contrast to some of Nigeria’s current leadership styles:

• The simplicity, humility, and modest lifestyle of Balewa’s vacation remind us of leaders who saw themselves as servants, rather than showpieces.

• Debate quality, public discourse, and decorum were, as many argue, at a different level in the First Republic. The political culture encouraged oratory, civility, debate, and public speaking skill. 

• Balewa’s example challenges current leaders and politicians to reflect on accountability, service, and the visible difference between office and ostentation.

Conclusion

“Balewa’s Vacation in Retrospect” isn’t just about a week away from the job—it’s about a mindset that placed duty above display, humility above luxury, and substance above spectacle. Remembering this better yesterday may help us imagine a better tomorrow.