MALAM SA’ADU ZUNGUR; THE UNSUNG HERO

Known by only few but unknown to many

A hero and a legend

A leading poet and a political activist

Of the pre-independence Nigeria

So great and popular during his time

His popularity was enhanced

With the help of his poem

Which tries to establish

A connection with the common man

Malam saadu zungur,

Is you that we remember

Malam saadu zungur,

Our teacher, our role model

Malam saadu zungur,

So honest and very religious

Malam saadu zungur,

THE UNSUNG HEROE

Now that we are here

Remembering and praying for you

The story of our heroes pass

Still lives well after their lifetime

But what about those behind the scene

THE UNSUNG HEROES

A versed scholar and a great hero

Does he not deserve even a remembrance?

Does he not deserve praise?

Does he not deserve immortalization?

so as not to forget his name

Well you know more than I

NAY! He deserves far more than

Just a mere street name after him

His service to his people is immeasurable

His morals are irrefutable

His manners are unquestionable

The determination he has is unspeakable

In western and Arabic education, he is knowledgeable

The words in his poems are enjoyable

 In every aspect they are compatible

His firm words are not miserable

But by all, appreciateable

HE IS THE UNSUNG HERO.

Destiny may not have chosen him

Fate must have overlooked him

But still he fought for his country

His memory still lives within us

And his poems echoes in our ears

We still missed him in our midst

We pray may the ALMIGHTY

In his infinite majesty

Protest him on the last day from thirsty

Admit him into jannatul firdausy

And make it his abode for eternity

Forgive our short comings

For we are all bound to make mistake

And your mercy has no measure

May you make him encounter

The members of his household

In the day of resurrection

Which is a promise in the book

That the righteous will be joined

With their loved ones

We pray for him to be among those

Here we come to the point of termination

Of the poem written so that

You can benefit from its contents

To be informed of whom really is the subject

HE IS THE UNSUNG HERO

To all those unsung heroes

This poem is just for you

An appreciation for all

That you have done to you people

Each and every day of your life

Malam saadu zungur,

Is you that we remember

Malam saadu zungur,

Our teacher, our role model

Malam saadu zungur,

So honest and very religious

Malam saadu zungur,

THE UNSUNG HEROE

Now that we are here

Remembering and praying for you

Oh dear reader with ability,

May the creator give you the ability

To follow the path of humanity

To serve our community

And Nigeria our country

For I see that, as a necessity

And a way of generosity

AMEE33N.

ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA, “FIRST SPEECH AS PRIME MINISTER” (1957).

By 1957 Nigeria was clearly on the path toward independence.  In preparation the British Government named Abubakar Tafawa Balewa the first Prime Minister of the soon to be independent nation in a power sharing agreement among the colony's three major political parties.  In the following radio address broadcasted to the Nigeria in September 1957,  Balewa accepts his new appointment and outlines the political future of the soon-to-be independent nation.  
This has been a great day for Nigeria, and, as the first Prime Minister of the Federation of Nigeria, I am proud to speak to my fellow-countrymen tonight. I am proud, and I am humble, too, when I think of the enormous responsibility which has been placed upon me, and my colleagues.
Today, we have set out on the last stage of our journey to Independence, and the next three years will see the culmination of a process which has been gathering momentum year by year, and will see us reaping the harvest of what we have sown. The success of the harvest will depend upon us, and that is why I am glad to speak to you tonight. Everyone of us has his part to play in the work of preparing Nigeria for Independence on the 2nd of April, 1960. I want everyone in Nigeria to realise that this is no easy task, and it cannot be performed by the Federal and Regional Ministers and legislators alone. It is a task for everyone of you because it is only by the personal effort of each individual that Independence for the Federation can become a reality in 1960.
We have declared our intention of attaining Independence for the Federation on the 2nd of April, 1960, and if we wish to take our place among the responsible nations of the world, we must make every effort to see that this aim is achieved, and achieved with an international reputation for good internal government.
Nigeria has now reached a critical stage in her history. We must seize the opportunity which has been offered to us to show that we are able to manage our own affairs properly. Every Nigerian, whatever his status, and whatever his religion, has his or her share to contribute to this crucial task. I appeal to all my countrymen and women to cooperate with me and my colleagues to create a better understanding among our peoples, to establish mutual respect, and trust, among all our tribal groups, and to unite in working together for the common cause, the cause for which no sacrifice will be too great.
I am convinced, and I want you also to be convinced, that the future of this vast country must depend, in the main, on the efforts of ourselves to help ourselves. This we cannot do if we do not work together in unity. Indeed, unity today is our greatest concern, and it is the duty off everyone of us to work so that we may strengthen it. This morning I said in the House of Representatives that bitterness due to political differences would carry Nigeria nowhere, and I appealed to the political leaders throughout the country to control their party extremists. To you who are listening tonight I repeat that appeal—Let us put away bitterness and go forward in friendship to Independence.
To further this overriding need for unity, my colleagues in the Council of Ministers and I have decided to give the country a lead by inviting the leaders of the Action Group to form with us a truly National Government composed of members of the main parties in the Country, and here I must pay tribute to Dr Azikiwe, to Chief Awolowo, Dr Endeley and to the leader of my own party, the Sardauna of Sokoto, for supporting me in this decision. I and my Colleagues of the N.C.N.C. and N.P.C. bold out our hands in welcome to the Action Group members of the Council and I promise you that we shall do our utmost to ensure that the deliberations of the Council are held in an atmosphere devoid of strife and narrow party prejudice.
And now I would like to say a word to the civil service. We are grateful to all the civil servants, through whose work the country has reached the present stage of political development. I know that every constitutional advance puts a great strain on the civil service. Not only is there additional work to be done, but some officers find it hard to accept the new changes, but I must emphasize that Nigeria has today taken another important step forward, and if we are to succeed we must have the loyalty of all Nigerian and expatriate officers in this vital period before self-government is achieved. I should like to reassure all our expatriate staff of our continued Sincerity in the pledges given over the last few years and to promise them that they need have no fears about their future. Their aim and our aim remains what it has always been—the welfare and prosperity of Nigeria. Our political advance will be of no value if it is not supported by economic progress. It is therefore most important that the development plans throughout the country should be carried out with vigour in order that we may have a proper financial standing when, in three years’ time, we ask the world to regard us as an independent self-governing nation.
I would like to remind you of what a great American once said. It was this, ‘United we stand, divided we fall’. This statement is as true for Nigeria today as it has been for any other country. The peoples of Nigeria must be united to enable this country to play a full part in shaping the destiny of mankind. On no account should we allow the selfish ambitions of individuals to jeopardise the peace of the thirty-three million law-abiding people of Nigeria. It is the duty of all of us to work for unity and encourage members of all our communities to live together in peace and harmony. The way to do this is to create understanding, mutual respect and trust. It is important that we should first show respect to each other before asking the world to respect us.
Well—it is time for me to wish you good night, but first I would Once more tell you how absolutely vital it is for your future and the future Nigeria which your children will inherit that, during this interim period before Independence we should be united. Let us be honest with ourselves, and let us be sincere—we know what we want, and we are sure that we can get it, and get it at the right time, provided we are not delayed by selfish quarrels. At a time like this, we must all turn our minds to Almighty God and seek His guidance and assistance—by His grace, we shall succeed.
Sources:

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Mr. Prime Minister: A Selection of Speeches Made by Alhaji the Right Honourable Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, K.B.E., M.P., Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Apapa: Nigerian National Press, Ltd., 1964).

Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE.

Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE

Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE (December 1912 – 15 January 1966) was a Nigerian politician, and the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria.

Early life and career

Abubakar Balewa was born late in 1912 in Bauchi, the son of a Bageri Muslim district head in the Bauchi divisional district of Lere. Although it is widely (incorrectly) presumed that he was Hausa, Balewa's father Yakubu Dan Zala was in fact of Bageri Baggara ethnicity, and his mother Fatima Inna was Fulani.
He started early education at the Koranic School in Bauchi and like most of his contemporaries, he studied at the Katsina College for further education and soon acquired his teaching certificate. He returned to Bauchi to teach at the Bauchi Middle School. In 1944, along with a few learned teachers from the north, he was chosen to study abroad for a year at the University of London's Institute of Education, which today forms part of University College London. Upon returning to Nigeria, he became an Inspector of Schools for the colonial administration and later entered politics. He was elected in 1946, to the colony's Northern House of Assembly, and to the Legislative Assembly in 1947. As a legislator, he was a vocal advocate of the rights of northern Nigeria, and together with Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, who held the hereditary title of Sardauna of Sokoto, he founded the Northern People's Congress (NPC).

From self-government to independence

Balewa administration

Balewa entered the government in 1952 as Minister of Works, and later served as Minister of Transport. In 1957, he was appointed Chief Minister, forming a coalition government between the NPC and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), led by Nnamdi Azikiwe. He retained the post as Prime Minister when Nigeria gained independence in 1960, and was reelected in 1964.
Prior to Nigeria's independence, a constitutional conference in 1954 had adopted a regional political framework for the country, with all regions given a considerable amount of political freedom. The three regions then were composed of diverse cultural groups. The premiers and some prominent leaders of the regions later took on a policy of guiding their regions against political encroachment from other regional leaders. Later on, this political environment influenced the Balewa administration. His term in office was turbulent, with regional factionalism constantly threatening his government.
However, as Prime Minister of Nigeria, he played important roles in the continent's formative indigenous rule. He was an important leader in the formation of the Organisation of African Unity and creating a cooperative relationship with French speaking African countries. He was also instrumental in negotiations between Moise Tshombe and the Congolese authorities during the Congo Crisis of 1960–1964. He led a vocal protest against the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960 and also entered into an alliance with Commonwealth ministers who wanted South Africa to leave the Commonwealth in 1961. However, a treason charge and conviction against one of the western region's leaders, Obafemi Awolowo, led to protest and condemnation from many of his supporters. The 1965 election in the region later produced violent protests. Rioting and violence were soon synchronous with what was perceived as inordinate political encroachment and an over-exuberant election outcome for Awolowo's western opponents.
As Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, from 1960 to 1961, doubled as Foreign Affairs advocate of Nigeria. In 1961, the Balewa government created an official Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Relations ministerial position in favour of Jaja Wachuku who became, from 1961 to 1965, the first substantive Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Relations, later called External Affairs.

Honours

In January 1960, Balewa was knighted by Elizabeth II as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Sheffield in May, 1960.

Overthrow

He was overthrown and murdered in a military coup on January 15, 1966, as were many other leaders, including his old companion Ahmadu Bello. The circumstances of his death still remain unresolved. His body was discovered at a roadside near Lagos six days after he was ousted from office. Balewa was buried in Bauchi. News of his assassination spurred violent riots throughout Northern Nigeria and ultimately led to the bloody counter-coup of July 1966.

Today, his portrait adorns the 5 Naira Note. The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi is named in his honour.

Uqbah Abdullahi Vono

ZAHRAH AND UQBAH

WAIT let us rejoice and cherish

       Our beloved brother

Nay! He is far more than that

                He is a friend and a mentor

His name,  UQBAH ABDULLAHI VONO

Uqbah: An Arabic Name

Meaning “the end of everything”

                  For indeed name follow its bearer

Because he is indeed the end

Of everything positive

When you talk about calmness

              Uniquessness is also his passion

If you can observe his attire

                    You will need not an explanaTION

Not to even talk of explamaTION

                   He is the end towards tat direcTION

Because of his endless inclinaTION

And frequent prostraTION

To the lord of creaTION

He has already stated to

Succeed in all his endeavors

He is responsible and capable

Charismatic and also trustworthy

He value discipline and justice

Honor, culture and tradition

For they are his watchwords

These are the words of truth

 I am saying for you to benefit

There is no misleading in them

My observation, is what they contain.

I won’t drop my pen

Without paying my respect

To the other half of the duo

Though she need no formal introducTION

ZAHRAH BUHARI is known all over the naTION

Sparklingly bright and beautiful

Her beauty is beyond imaginaTION

It’s said that “Reps ipsa loquito”

FACT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF

Her Fulani accent speaks for itself

And her kindness is endless

In peace and harmony she appears

Our prayers to Baba are selfLESS

For his service to Nigeria aren’t careLESS

WE pray that Allah gives him reward that is countLESS

Forgive all his misdeeds shortcomINGS

Protect him from evil doINGS

Enrich him with  good endING

Guide him to the straight path

And admit him into Jannatul Firdausi

AMEEEN