By Muhammad Aliyu Mustapha
This marks the 43rd year of the death of the legendary elder statesman, the formidable opposition leader, the hope for the downtrodden, the fiery politician and passionate patriotic Nigerian, late Malam Aminu Yusuf, popularly known as Aminu Kano. He was one of the foremost opposition leaders, whose exemplary lifestyles and attributes were not only well known but are also worthy of emulation.
Late Malam Aminu Kano was born in the ancient city of Kano on 18th August, 1920 to the family of Mallam Yusuf Kano. After, his Quranic education, he was admitted into Shahuci Primary School for his First School Leaving Certificate in 1933. On completion he proceeded to Middle School, Kano and Kaduna College for his post-primary School education from1933 to 1937. The late politician also obtained a Diploma and subsequently took up a teaching appointment at the then Bauchi Middle School between 1943 and 1946. In 1947, he was admitted into London Institute of Education, from where he obtained a Professional Certificate in Teaching.
Upon his return, late Malam Aminu Kano was promoted and transferred as Headmaster to Teachers Training Centre, Maru in present Zamfara State in 1948. He was an active member of Boys Scouts and even represented the country at World’s Scout Jamboree held in Paris (France). He joined active politics in 1950, and gave a tremendous contribution in the struggle to emancipate the proletariat.
In politics, he devoted himself to politics of liberations; first from colonial rule and then after independence from internal political and economic hardships to make life easier for the downtrodden. In 1953, as a result of his dedication to the ideals and philosophy of the NEPU, an opposition party, he was elected the leader. Whereupon, late Malam Aminu Kano led the party in Constitutional talks of 1953, 1954, 1957 and 1958 in London and Lagos.
Late Malam Aminu Kano represented Kano East in the Federal Parliament. NEPU went into alliance with NCNC in 1962, although, the alliance broke up two years later in 1964. After the first coup in the country, in January, 1966, he was appointed into the Federal Executive Council (1967 – 1975), as a Federal Commissioner for Communications and later, Federal Commissioner for Health.
In the Second Republic, Malam Aminu Kano initially joined the National Party of Nigeria but later dumped it and joined forces with the likeminds to form the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). In the 1979 General Elections, PRP won two gubernatorial seats in Kano and Kaduna, with lates Mohammed Abubakar Rimi and Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa as the elected governors respectively.
His party, the PRP, had indeed proven, beyond reasonable doubts, it had the interest of the downtrodden masses at heart in that the two state governments in Kano and Kaduna, had between 1979 and 1983, translated the manifesto of the party into action by embarking on people-oriented projects. These projects were aimed at developing rural areas. I also provided essential social amenities for the benefit the talakawa and embarked on a mass literacy campaign toward giving adults access to formal education among others. In addition, Aminu Kano’s PRP had abolished the cattle and poll taxes i.e. Jangali da Haraji.
Late Malam Aminu Kano was conferred with the second highest National Honours Award, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, by President Shehu Shagari in 1982. He was also a recipient of several awards of recognition from other countries. He lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation. He died on Sunday, 17th April, 1983.
May Allah grant him Jannatul Firdausi. Ameen.
