@ Danorous I have only just seen this . I too have tears in my eyes. He was truly an eloquent , articulate and distinguished statesman. I was far too young to witness all this first hand and seeing this just elicits profound pride and conversely the opposite concerning the current state of the country or the leaders it has produced since what appears to have been the heyday of the Country. Praying for God's renewal of all that's good in all and in the land to come to the fore. Amen
What most you missed is that at the Overseas Press Club in New York, he asked for all kinds of help to develop Africa; he asked for encouragement, for knowledge, for education. What he did NOT ask for is AID!!! This is indeed a SELF RESPECTING GENTLEMAN! What has happened to our leaders of today?
So confident, so dignified, yet so simple. Pride of Africa and the black race. When shall Nigeria and indeed Africa reproduce this kind? Thank you Sir Abubakar.
One would clearly say that this is the true golden voice of africa, Sir Abubakar tafawa balewa is not only eloquent in adressing such a distinguish American gathering of Congress with such a powerful speech but a true reflection of a natural leader who has absolute power behind his speech that draws the human heart & instills into the mind the message he carries & passes in a manner that is even far more ahead of the americans that have English as their tribe - Kassim Mukhtar Alkali Mahamud - Borno State 2011 Governorship Candidate & Youngest Governortorial Aspirant in Nigeria in 2011
After watching this video i feel so sorry for Nigeria😔 tears in my heart 😭😭😭 this man is a great legend 💯💪 imagine we av someone like him as our leaders today chai Nigeria would have be a great Country 🇳🇬 So sad 💔 no one like him... God bless Nigeria 🇳🇬🙏
They decived him can't you see the happiness in the face of the USA😂 they were happy he fell for there trap to favor them and their future generation and put our own generation in bondage and suffering, the black people do not have brain for the future, forget how the celebrate him over there then think outside the box
with the type of comments I have seen so far about this clip had indeed got redirection in my sense of optimism that Nigeria shall one day raise again. Look at how positive comments trail each other irrespective of our differences. Nigerian Youth, the future of our dear land lies with you. The likes of Tafawa Balewas made us realise where we all got it wrong. It is never late for us to revert to the days of glory. May the soul of Tafawa Balewa rest in perfect peace. ARISE O COMPATRIOTS!
This is very informative; I never knew this fellow was so well-spoken; they've always potrayed him as an ignorant; which he is not. I am very pleased with this video. His protocol and mannerism was very appealing.
Unbelieveable, this is truly how a leader should command respect, you are a pride for we the younger generation, i hope to recommend this video to friends and folks alike, that Nigeria was once a pride of the world. RIP Sir ATB.
As a Kenyan I love watching balewa's works a true leader...so young Army officer by the name Kaduna nzeogu and his fellow officers eliminated balewa,Bello and akintola it's very unfortunate tribalism should be condemned with the loudest voice possible.
Years ago, the world believed Nigeria would be a great nation. We failed them and in that we failed ourselves. That we are yet to retrace our footsteps is more saddening.
The ibos love the hausas/fulani then. Of course Balewa was from a minority tribe (not the hausa/fulani). They aligned with the north then, hence they are well entrenched in his government. They are so pained today that they are not at the central as before. ibos are betrayal of our democracy.
And they say northerners are illiterates, he spoke the best English compared to any other leader of his time. I am proud of him, the most intelligent leader we’ve ever had.
Charles Nwaozuzu Of course yes! Currently African head of States are being treated as chickens in the western and in the United States but if them visit Africa oh oh oh it is like Anjeles are coming from to the heaven!
Charles Nwaozuzu exactly what I have been saying all through as I watch the video!!! Nigerian president visits America today can not get this reception
I have visited his tomb and residence in Bauchi during my NYSC days, no wonder his tomb was made a national monument till date,Sir T. Balewa was simply classic,his English and assent were articulate which I have not seen in any leader in Nigeria after his demise,How can we get back on track,Nigeria has indeed lost all her glory and no one dare recognizes in the international community.May his gentle soul rest in peace, Amen.
First time to see Tafawa Balewa speaks, Oh God what a man who brought so much respect and pride to Nigeria,those who killed him are suffering till now, they have never known peace,they shattered the dreams of all Nigerian by the single act of betrayal they unleashed by killing this great Nigerian.Oh God Tafawa Balewa i love you with all my heart,you are a true Nigerian and i will am proud of you.may your soul RIP.
Believe me, we used to listen to him in those days on radio. I wish those freaking coupist did not terminate his life. This was the genesis of our problems in Nigeria. We should have been allowed to make our mistakes and correct it, like we are doing now.
Kennedy,you hit the nail on its head by your statement. The crisis of disunity and national unrest bedeviling our nation,Nigeria can never be separated from the heartless and inhuman killing of this great nationalist Sir Tafawa Balewa and others all in the name of coup.
First and foremost, I would like to say a very BIG and MASSIVE thanks to TheAsy4life in bringing back to life once again some of the many untold facts about this great father of our beautiful country Nigeria. As a Yoruba man, I was sooo sooo impressed with Sir (Dr.) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa's majestic and eloquent speeches and the way and manner with which he carried himself at all times during the visit as opposed to the various lies being fed to many young Nigerians over the years. A GREAT MAN.
wow ! This was the time Nigeria was respected globally, and Nigerian leaders then had all it takes to be respected leaders.Listen to the likes of Prime Minister Balewa, President Azikiwe, Chief Awolowo,Gen.Emeka Ojukwu,Dr.Mbadiwe,etc,and you'll be ashamed of what is left of our leaders since the last 25 years.
God bless Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, a true Patriot, True Nationalist, Truly African; we love you. Where did we get it wrong? How can we get back on track? Why have we become sectional in our thinking? Oh God, we need your help
Amina yabo thank u very very very much thus eloquent documentary! This was when the world had RESPECT for African nation! Naija will be GREAT again ( insha Allah)
The eloquence of Sir Tafawa Balewa in comparison with President Muhammadu Buhari shows that Nigeria is retrogressing in terms of standard of leadership.
I disagree with you brother! Eloquence has nothing to do with success or greatness but all The same President Muhammadu Buhari is the most refined president i have seen in recent times.
Sir Alhaji Tafewa Balewa was A NATURAL. Inherently exhibiting royal standards grace and eloquence in speech delivery likened and loved by all who heard him speak. He is arguably the John F Kennedy of Nigeria. They're almost similar in speech oratory.
I must say I love the way Sir Tafawa Balewa spoke with such an articulate voice. But what really happened to the promise of greatness that this country showed all those years ago? Where did we get it wrong???
He was known as the golden voice of Africa...and this was 1961! Compare this to the alignment of anyone & anything from Northern Nigeria that you hear today. We got it wrong with the extreme take over of democracy by Aguiyi Ironsi who organized the slaughtering of the Nigerian political actors including Balewa, Ahmadu Bello (Premier Northern Region), Akintola (Premier Western Region), Brig. maimalari and others...total of 11 senior captains of Nigerian democracy. Aguiyi Irons truncated democracy and rule of law...this led to a counter coup and then a civil war....this extreme swings in social engineering culminated into the new democratic dispensation that is now 16 years old...hopefully the next president would restore Nigeria onto the path of self-discovery, self-confidence, liberty, prosperity and freedom for ALL Nigeria once again. This is why I believe Buhari is being seen as the right change agent to lead Nigeria back to the glorious path again...
TheObserver Facts are Facts. Nigerian History lessons 101. This is one area that the Oputa Reconciliation panel under Obasanjo did not reach far enough in it's reconciliations initiatives. We move forward as a people when we look the facts in the face, recognize it, make amends and move on. Most historical documentations did not reflect the facts, they actually wrongfully apportioned ALL blame of the termination of the first republic on Nzeogwu Kaduna. He was only part of the blameworthy major actors who orchestrated a coup with Aguiyi Ironsi as the beneficiary. All treasonable felonies no doubt - Nzeogwu was not a lone wolf crazy guy, listen to him speak on you tube and it would be clear to you that he was a rational person who believed in a plan hatched by his superiors. When JFK was killed, did the leader of the Army take over the United States Government and made himself the leader? No - one person was killed and the vice was sworn in right away. Well Kaduna Nzeogwu, Listen to his speech on you tube where he said he was loyal to Aguiyi Ironsi after killing Ahamadu Bello - he only killed one politician, the leader of the North. Others that were loyal to Aguiyi Ironsi killed the prime minister Tafawa Balewa, and the some other regional leaders of the first republic, even as one regional leader that of the eastern region was spared. OK - Bad enough. We still had elected governments at that point, federally and region-wise. What should have happened should have been the parties - who by the way had succession plans - activate their succession plans as dictated by the constitution and we continue with our parliamentary system of government. Then what did Aguiyi Ironsi do - he declared martial law and sacked all elected representatives at the federal and regional levels and made himself the head of state (clips are on you tube). So Aguiyi Ironsi killed the first republic, not the senseless killings of the elected leaders. By the way you should also listen to President Azikiwe (on youtube), who was on extended vacation while all that was going on in Nigeria, explaining away why it was OK with him that his kinsman and fellow townsman was not wrong to take over the country in the way and manner in which he did. Well historical facts records the blow back which ended in a civil war and we survived as a country. This is the painful history we all have to recognize and NEVER repeat. The solution is to go back to the rule of law, one country, one people, one brotherhood for peace, progress, unity though tribe and tongue may differ. As a New Nigerian I recognize this facts for what they are - I imbibe and I encourage my fellow countrymen to imbibe the lessons from them - and say NEVER again and do everything individually & collectively NOT to repeat the mistakes of the past.
I am short of words hearing this great man eloquently commanding a deserving ovation and a round of applause of his teaming listeners. I am proud of you my mentor!!! I never expected these. Forward Nigeria!!!
My Brother, We never had that glory.All that we had at the time were established by the British masters.The further we get from 1960,the worst it gets because all the things established by Britain are gone.Remember that there was a scramble for allies between the west and the Soviet Union at the time.Hence this visit.Also remember that black Americans were already protesting for freedom during this visit.The only way to make Nigeria a Country is to acknowledge that we never had one.Then we start from our languages in Schools,scholarships with 3years mandatory service after graduation.Lastly,yearly tax return and declaration of income by any body making more than 1 million naira a year.Tax laws are the easiest way to fight corruption.If you can`t catch them looting,you can catch them for not paying tax on the money and still jail them.
Alh Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa is a national figure to reckon with. A true nationalist who has fought for the creation of the state of Nigeria, but was killed in cold blood by some blood thirsty Igbo military men. The igbo people are the beginning of Nigerian problem. May your soul rest in perfect peace SIR!
Thank you so much for this.... It gives hope, courage and optimism for a better future for our country if only we will look at our constructive history without prejudice. I salute you Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa!!
Every Nigerian who aspires to make a difference in Nigeria needs to watch this video. I weep for the present state of Nigeria and picture a restoration of our lost glory.
The English diction of Tafawa Balewa is like that of the old British Upper Class Aristocracy.You could tell, he learnt what is called in Britain "The Queen's English".It also shows that Nigeria's education system in the 30s/40s was very good,if this kind of diction could be coming out of a man whose region of Nigeria were the least educated.
What has Queens English Done for Nigerians? Are the British speaking any Upper-Class Aristocracy Nigerian language? This is the kind of mentality that has kept us enslaved for far too long. This is also the reason why no race respects us because we keep pretending to be who we are not. Pride yourself in the knowledge of your native Nigerian Language. Hopefully one day Nigerians can adopt one of the Nigerian languages that we can all speak as one Nigeria and have a sense of NATIONAL PRIDE. All this Oyibo this Oyibo that has made us lose our sense of identity and it is the cause of the self-hate among African and Black People.
Let the truth be told: the British gave us everything but we squandered it all! The coup that claimed Balewa's life changed everything! If either of the two had been allowed to live, the world, definitely, would have been a better place, a more equitable just world for all!
A lot was stolen from Nigeria. I'm not saying Nigerians don't take a share of the blame, but everything from its people to its natural resources was stolen from the country.
which Nigerian leader can you compare to Alhaji Tafawa Balewa since independence? He is composed and full of confidence, in charge of the situations all through the trip. Nigeria will be great again in Jesus name.
To me, Ojukwu would have made a fine leader. Unfortunately, he had to advocate for his own people. The likes of him and Balewa may never exist again. Sighs too.
Wait a minute,did somebody see the rousing welcome and ovation accorded to him and his team?Can someone hear the kind of English language coming from his mouth without an iota of northern accent underneath?I hope President Buhari watched this clip to see his fellow northerner.i wonder if even the lamest child on the streets of America notices the arrival of 21st century leaders from Nigeria.after watching this clip,my eyes were filled wth tears...if u ask me,i think Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa is d greatest hero Nigeria has produced.shame on present day political leaders who have turned themselves into thieves and treasury looters.oh how the glory of my country Nigeria has been ridiculed!!
I always happy seen my past HEROS & HEROINES, it encourages me to WORK & SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND UNITY OF MY COUNTRY "NIGERIA"🇮🇹; also in ANYWHERE I AM🙏
what a state visit, he was a real pride of Nigeria, an outstanding prime minister. The eloquence, the exquisite and well delivered speech.. the aura.. was mind blowing.. I just love this man... where did we go wrong as a nation???? where.. Lord have Mercy on us
A wonderful footage depicting an awesome personality in Tafawa Balewa. Erudite and sartorial.....I can't recall he had an estate anywhere in Nigeria or any property anywhere in the world....
You cant really appreciate the essential Balewa until you read his biography''The Rt Honourable Gentleman'' and also visit his house and tomb in Bauchi. At his tomb, a visitor wrote'' Nigeria, why did you kill this good man''.? This is a man that ruled the country for 6 years and yet had an ordinary beetle car as only a personal automobile. The only house(a hut I regard it) he built was financed with a mortgage loan he did not complete repayment of before his death. Those who killed him offended God and this Nation, indeed.
@talk2me9ja Truth has no other true name than TRUTH. Those bastards among us are still at it, planning war they can never win unless they dialogue and seek referendum. The biafrans, Boko Haram and our useless corrupt leaders are responsible for Nigeria situation. All other African countries that used to look up on us are fast developing and leaving Nigeria behind, our people are running to Togo, Gambia, Senegal to live because there's no peace and stability in Nigeria. So sad indeed. Education is zero, hospitals have become abattoirs/slaughter house where people die of common ailments and more women are dying at childbirth. I feel for my country.
While the past has definitely been kind to us, our present days has been marked with challenges. I think if prime minister Balewa was with us today, he will remind us that our future can be brighter than our past and present; that there is an unwavering sprite of perseverance about our people and not to relish in our past glory too much but to engender a better society for our people.
On of the greatest nigerian ever lived, those are leaders who cares about their people, they died for nigeria, they were not about money like the ones we have now
May our dear nation rise again. let us stop limiting successes only to nostalgia. Nay! I have dream that Nigeria Shall be an Eldorado of our dreams. May the soul of Tafawa Balewa rest in perfect peace. The comments trailing this clip give me hope for brighter future. ONE NIGERIA. ARISE O COMPATRIOTS!
Am highly moved by the cultural representation of our people amidst the Americans & also interesting to note that religion was not a barrier in those days,how mighty had fallen !!!
+James Anene - CORRUPTION is the word, sadly. Imagine, a Nigerian leader could even snub the American VP (@ 02:55), unlike today when we play chihuahua to them!
Sir Abubakar he is leader with all the quality of leadership, but its is been hardluck to our nation the planted of his type is never been riped before grown. i tell u we could had been beter Nigerians
The Respect, Honour, Love from Americans... The Man, T. Balewa... The Country, Nigeria... The Greatness of old (1961)... So overwhelming. How do we (Nigerians) go back to this greatness? #tears #iamintears #sober
Nigeria is the land of blessing,blessed with so much name it mineral resources,human resources but bad leaders make me sad about Nigeria,can any of Nigeria leaders be so welcome in America like this great man we love you TBS,you forever remain in our heart
Please, can anyone volunteer to send the President, Jonathan, a copy of this video. Maybe it will give him an idea of the kind of President we would love to have come 2015.
wow wow. What a fantastic leader. he spoke so eloquently without any native accent. May God almighty give us another generation of leaders that will bring us respect once again. Rest in peace Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
I have always liked Tafawa Balewa and I believe he is a good man. He lived above his time judging from the fact that Northerners who ruled this nation after him never showed the kind of class he showed. I really mourn his death.
