After the December 1959 elections, Tafawa Balewa became the Prime Minister of Nigeria and the overall head of government.
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| Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, d. 1966 at 53 |
Nnamdi Azikiwe was the governor general and in 1963 became the first President of Nigeria. He served as (ceremonial) head of state.
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| Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, d. 1996 at 91 |
Obafemi Awolowo continued as leader of the opposition.
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| Chief Obafemi Awolowo, d. 1987 at 78 |
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