Bye bye Balat

Senator Isaiah Balat’s burial rites, which started from Abuja, Kaduna metropolis and ended in his village, Gora Bafai in Zangon Kataf LGA, was adjudged the first gathering to draw a huge crowd and brought prominent Nigerians to the state this year.From the decoration of the casket that was conveyed in a world class ambulance with […]

Senator Isaiah Balat’s burial rites, which started from Abuja, Kaduna metropolis and ended in his village, Gora Bafai in Zangon Kataf LGA, was adjudged the first gathering to draw a huge crowd and brought prominent Nigerians to the state this year.
From the decoration of the casket that was conveyed in a world class ambulance with a Lagos registration number plate upon which was simply written, Ashes, the sewing of uniforms by the burial committee, decorations  and the exotic refreshment, one would conclude that the late political juggernaut, Balat, was born with  a silver spoon.
Villagers trekked several kilometers, while others who could not, used other means of transportation such as  bicycles, motorcycles, cars and the popular Keke NAPEP.
“I am from Zonkwa and I trekked to this place just to pay my last respects to Isaiah Balat, even though I’ve only seen him in pictures,” Zamani Luka, 10, said.
The convergence of locals at  the burial, despite being faced with night attacks in villages lacking in social amenities such as schools, good roads, health centers, electricity, prompted the traditional ruler of the area, the Agwatyap, to inspire  them with a revelation that Balat was initially  a fuel attendant, but attained stardom through hard work.
The Agwatyap said  “Balat’s father could not afford his secondary school education, but he attained stardom through hard work.”
“Balat was a fuel attendant, but the Almighty raised him up,” the monarch said, while urging the youth of the area to emulate him.
Balat lost his mother as an infant, and had to live with his grandmother until he was old enough to fend for himself.
He later left the village and moved to the city to make a living, where he served as a fuel attendant. After his post-primary education, Balat attended a programme in Marketing at the Kaduna Polytechnic between 1976 and 1978.
Later, he attended the Advanced Management Programme at the Harvard Business School and the college of Petroleum and Energy Studies at Oxford, United Kingdom, it was gathered.
Balat established the Isaiah Balat Foundation, with the goal of vaccinating over a million people across Kaduna state against Meningitis.
Balat’s hard work enabled  him rise to become a federal cabinet member and lawmaker.
He was Minister for Works and Housing (State) from May 1999 – December 2000 and Senator for Kaduna South between May 2003 -May 2007. He contested the Kaduna state governorship primaries under the platform of the PDP in 2007, but lost to Vice President Namadi Sambo. He remained in the party and was later picked as a presidential adviser.
His death came few days after he wrote an article which was widely publicized in the nation’s print media titled, “Kaduna and Politics of 2015.”
Isaiah Balat was a Presidential Adviser on Special Duties in the office of the Vice President. After a brief illness, Balat died Wednesday, Feb 19, 2014 at the age of 61, at the National Hospital Abuja.
His death made the Gwong people (Kagoma), the late Kaduna State governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa’s tribe in Jema’a LGA of Kaduna State, to suspend their 2014 annual cultural day. A work-free day was also declared in Zango Kataf LGA which enabled the people of the area pay their last respects.
The burial rites at ECWA Lemu road, Tudun Nupawa, and that of his village was a moving event not just  to the two wives he left behind, Mary, Paulina,  and their five children Linda, Barr. Jane, Engr. Adamu,  Mr. Bobai and Mr David, but the entire people of Southern Kaduna, because Balat was regarded as the only politician who generated meaningful Federal projects in Southern Kaduna, ranging from roads and electricity.
Vice President Namadi Sambo during his tribute said Balat shouldn’t have died at a time when the country needed him the most.
Namadi, at the church service for the final interment of his former aide held at ECWA Church Gora Bafai in Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna State said, “We lost a colossus and a hard working man.”
“Why did Balat die now? This is a huge vacuum that will be difficult to fill,” Sambo said, amidst hundreds of people that gathered to pay their last respect.
The Vice President said, “Balat was fully committed to his duty and we will miss his wise counsel. Nigeria has lost a patriot who served the Nation very well.  Balat worked  hard for the enthronement of democracy.”
Responding to the President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union Dr Ephraim Goje’s plea for the creation of Gurara State, Sambo said although the occasion was not meant for political statements “Gurara State should be created.”
“The people of the area have contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria. The area has all it takes to have a state. When I was governor of Kaduna State, I financed the creation of Gurara State and it should be created,” the Vice President said.
“We thank God for the support we are receiving from the people of Southern Kaduna. We will consider putting a Federal University in Southern Kaduna, so that the likes of Balat would be raised,” Namadi added.
Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, who also lamented Balat’s death, said he dedicated his life to the service of humanity.
On the security challenges in the area, Yero said: “I am happy the governor of Plateau State is here. We are working hard on possible ways to address the security challenges in Southern Kaduna.”
Senator Solomon Ewuga in his tribute said that because of Balat’s loyalty, he dropped  his ministerial slot because he was requested to name a woman.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Chairman of Zangon Kataf LGA Christopher Haruna said they have to declare a work-free day in order to honour Balat and his contribution not only to the state, but Nigeria as a whole.
“We pray that God will raise other Balat’s in our LGA to fill in the vacuum,” Haruna said.
One of Balat’s sons, Bobai said their father was very strict, and will always want them to respect elders and constituted authorities.
“We will miss him because he was a generous person who will not want to give his children unnecessary luxury, in order to satisfy his people.
Other prominent Nigerians who attended the burial include Jeremiah Gado, ECWA president, Bishop of Methodist Cathedral Jos, Most Rev.Ibrahim Chindo, Senate President David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representative Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governors Jonah Jang of Plateau State, Isa Yuguda, Bauchi,  Sen Ahmed Makarfi, Sen Waku, Minister for Water Resources Sarah Ochekpe, Sen Zwingina, Prof Gerry Gnana, Sen. Mohammed Aruwa, Sen Nenadi Usman, Kaduna State Deputy Governor Ambassador Nuhu Audu Bajoga, among others.