By Isyaku Ibrahim
17th of April annually will remain special in the hearts and minds of radical politicians across the length and breadth of Nigeria aimed at commemorating the demise of the father of radical politics Malam Aminu Yusuf otherwise called Aminu Kano
It is a known fact that politics in Nigeria will knowingly or unknowingly remain incomplete without mentioning the name of the outstanding politician who fought wholly and squarely towards the total emancipation of the commoners
The struggle of the prominent politician who was a teacher by profession started as early as when he was posted to a school in Maru in old Sokoto State now Zamfara
Later with people including Abba Maikwaru, Raji Abdullahi, Sa’adu Zungur , Magaji DambattaTanko Yakasai and host of others formed Nepu
The formation of the party which is radical in ideology did not go down well with the ruling class of the period which saw them as threat to their leadership a situation that led their supporters to migrate from side of the country to the other while others were jailed or molested for staying behind the party
A man of proven integrity and honesty , Malam Aminu Kano held the ministerial positions of Communication and Health matters likewise adviser to General Gowon on political affairs and a chief adviser to the Head of states during the civil war
Malam Aminu Kano in view of his trustworthiness which made him so lovable to General Gowon,this caused him a lot of adversaries but within the cabinet and beyond but surprisingly, he crossed all the hurdles that were set up to when he tendered resignation
When the ban on politics was lifted in 1979,, Malam Aminu Kano first pitched tent with National Movement that metarmophorsed to NPN and after realising his ideals were not at par with that of the party he teamed up with individuals like Chinua Achebe, Samuel Grace Ikoku, Micheal Imoudu, Gambo Sawaba Khalifa Hassan Yusuf Bala Keffi, Lawan Dambazau, Abubakar Rimi Balarabe Musa Sabo Bakin Zuwo and the rest to form the leftist in approach PRP
Malam Aminu Kano whose consequential attitudes were never in doubt aspired for the country’s presidential seat in 1979 but came a distant fourth
He was also picked for similar position in 1983 together with Madam Bola as his running mate the first to pick a female for the post in the country
The leftist died later before the conduct of the polls
A champion of the most vulnerable of the society comprising women children and the ordinary citizenry
Malam Aminu Kano ‘s life was so eventful and beside that a challenge to present crop of leadership as despite his overwhelming popularity he has no accumulated wealth or assets nor foreign banks account as what he possessed was serving the humanity to the best of his ability It will interest you to understand that the only house he owned throughout his life was the well known Mambayya House named after the younger sister of his mother in Gwammaja which was bought for him by late Alhaji Aminu Dantata
Rightly speaking,as politicians of radical extraction are commemorating his life time there is the need for the relevant stakeholders in education , to explore a new course across our tertiary institutions titled the “exemplary leaders” this will necessarily help in inculcating refined attitudes of our past heroes into the minds and hearts of the younger generations going by the rate of moral decadence being witnessed at this material time
Malam Aminu Kano had died but his shining examples will continue to remain evergreen in the midst of the general
Our fervent prayers is to God to lighten his grave and reward him with a mansion in the heaven
