Aminu Kano

thumb|right Mallam Aminu Kano (9 August 1920 — 17 April 1983) was a Nigerian politician, writer, and trade-unionist. Quotes One must scratch that part of the body or mind that itches. The road to freedom is full of thorns and fire, yet happy is he who follows it! I am more interested in the purpose of government than its mechanics–though the means should at least be good enough to lead to the ends desired. Anyone who wants to be a leader must be the servant, not the boss, of those he wants to serve. If we go on foot, we will not walk, we will run. And if we fall, we will pick ourselves up and run again. But mark you, we will not go on foot. You might tell us to go by camel, or horse, but we will even skip the motor car and go by plane. And the British had best not deny us the choice of our means of transportation, no matter how fast. I hated government that sat on people Alan Feinstein, "African revolutionary; the life and times of Nigeria's Aminu Kano", pg. 119 We [at NEPU] interpret democracy in its more traditional, radical sense, and that is the rule of the common people, the poor, the illiterate, while our opponents (the NPC) interpret it in its modern Tory sense, and that is the rule of the enlightened and prosperous minority in the supposed interest of the common people. Robert Melson and Howard Wolpe, Nigeria: Modernization and the Politics of Communalism, pg. 549 ...the economy is a living thing, if you play with it, it can kill you. What Nigerians want is really very peddling things, now for example what is constitution, what is independence, what is 1st October if I go to bed hungry, or the next morning I wake up without breakfast, for my children to go to school without a meal? NTA Interview, "There Is An Attempt To Rig The Elections - Malam Aminu Kano", 1979. The word 'tribe' is insulting. It is the European who refers to us as tribes. Such words should be banned. I would rather say I come from Kano State than say I am Fulani.... Olu Adetule, "The Men to Watch: (1) Alhaji Aminu Kano," Drum, no. 232, August 1970. I have been a socialist all along. I discovered early in life that a lot of the codes of Islam are patterned along socialist lines. Olu Adetule, "The Men to Watch: (1) Alhaji Aminu Kano," Drum, no. 232, August 1970. What we have to do in this country is to try as much as possible not to be identified with any socialist camp but only that of the Nigerian experience. . . . [My brand of socialism is ] Nigerian socialism. To achieve it, we should take into account our traditional way of life, our temper, our economic potentialities and resources, our attitude to family life, our attitude to work and international good neighbourliness. These are what will give us the ingredients for our own kind of socialism. This will make us avoid the mistake of copying other people's arrangements which may be unsuitable for our particular situation. Olu Adetule, "The Men to Watch: (1) Alhaji Aminu Kano," Drum, no. 232, August 1970. Quotes about Aminu Aminu Kano developed a reputation for personal discipline and modest living. Supporters often viewed him as a politician who maintained a close connection with the people whose interests he represented. His speeches frequently emphasised fairness, responsibility in leadership, and the moral obligations of those who held public office. These themes helped reinforce his image as a reformer whose political life was guided by a clear sense of public duty. Mallam Aminu Kano and the Rise of Talakawa Politics in Northern Nigeria As we commemorate his life, we are reminded of the pivotal ideas that characterized his political engagement. Aminu Kano championed the rights of women, advocated for the poor, and sought to dismantle ethnically based political parties in favour of unity and inclusivity. In an era where the call for social justice and equality is more urgent than ever, we implore our leaders and young political aspirants to embody Aminu Kano’s spirit of leadership—one that fosters dialogue, promotes inclusiveness, and galvanises the masses towards collective progress. PRP honours Aminu Kano 42 years after In 1983, Kano died of a stroke. However, his ideas and work still have an impact on 21st-century Nigeria Aminu Kano Aminu's influence on Nigeria has clearly been great, especially among women, the common people, and the intellectuals, in large part due to his life of personal sacrifice, leadership by example, and his participation in the political process. Mallam Aminu and the Politics of Change in Nigeria External links Category:Politicians from Nigeria Category:Health ministers Category:1920 births Category:1983 deaths