In the heart of Bauchi town stands his resting place, the Tafawa Balewa Tomb, built during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo and commissioned in 1978.
Declared a national monument, it is more than a burial site; it is a silent museum of Nigeria’s history, a sacred corridor where symbolism meets reflection.
At the entrance, you are greeted not by his statue, but by the letter *“A”* from Abubakar, turned upside down. This, in accordance with Islamic injunctions that forbid tomb effigies, stands as a subtle yet profound symbol of humility and faith.
The walkway leading to the tomb is rough-edged, echoing the rugged path of leadership and the struggles of nationhood.
As you move through a dim alleyway, shafts of sunlight pierce through the brick walls, a play of shadow and light that mirrors Nigeria’s own journey through hardship and hope.
Then come two stairways, one narrow, one broad, leading toward the open tomb. The dual paths whisper of choices, of destinies shaped by courage or hesitation. The tomb itself is uncovered, open to the sky, an eternal gesture of openness, sincerity, and simplicity, the very virtues that defined Balewa’s life.
The walls are adorned with patterned mosaics, the floor lined with carefully spaced tiles, each element deliberate, each space pregnant with meaning.
Every texture, every glint of light tells a story of struggle, of sacrifice, and of the spirit of a nation still in search of itself.
There is more to this monument than words can capture, more symbols, more secrets, more stories waiting to be seen and understood. Those, I will reveal in detail in my upcoming book on Nigeria, where the tomb and its meanings unfold in their full grandeur.
The Tafawa Balewa Tomb is not merely a monument to a man; it is a living metaphor for a nation. Every Nigerian should visit it, not just as a pilgrimage to the past, but as a quiet conversation with our collective soul. It stands among the ten places that every Nigerian must see before departing to the great beyond.
For in its silence, you will hear the echoes of a voice that once united millions. In its simplicity, you will find the beauty of humility. And in its enduring presence, you will rediscover the grace of service.
Nigeria is beautiful.
May Nigeria succeed.
May her people find light even through the narrow paths of struggle.
May our leaders learn from the quiet wisdom of the Golden Voice of Africa.
And may we never forget the man who taught us that greatness begins with humility, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
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