Aminu Kano, The Radical Who Had No Patience For Any Semblance Of Oppression

Biography

 Aminu Kano, (9 August 1920 - 17 April 1983) was a Muslim politician born at Sudawa, Gwale local government and was a resident of Gwammaja, Dala local government Kano. Aminu Kano has three monumental sites named after him in Kano namely, the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and the Aminu Kano College of Islamic Studies.

  Aminu Kano was born to the family of an Islamic scholar, Mallam Yusuf who worked at an Alkali court. His father was of the Gyanawa Fulani clan, a lineage who are known for producing judicial scholars. Aminu attended the Kastina College and later earned a scholarship to University of London's Institution of Education, along side seven others including Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria's first and only Prime Minister. After earning his teaching certificate upon finishing Kastina College, he started teaching at the Bauchi training college.

Ideologies and Believes

  Aminu Kano believed that the faculty of reasoning bestowed upon man by God was to be used to reflect truth and find meaning. His radicalism grew out of his desire to find a good live for his people and set the talakawa (poor) free and end thier sufferings. He questioned every authority, policy or power that had a semblance of oppression; be it from colonialist or from the native authority (the Emirs). His uncompromising nature manifested in middle school ( equivalent of today's primary schools) where he masterminded students unrest. The tactics he used in scheming the unrest were so advanced, that he the mastermind usually escapes punishment. Together with his teacher and mentor Sa'adu Zungur, alongside Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa they formed the Bauchi General Improvement Union (BGIU) in 1943. Balewa agreed with the general idea of the union but disagreed with their methods therefore steered clear. 

  Sa'adu and Aminu wanted a rapid re-form but Balewa advocated a gradual process. Although the duo respected the intelligence and patriotism of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, they ignored him and went about writing harsh letters and articles to any Newspaper that would publish them. 

  The British came in contact with the letters and decided to bring the two closer to control them, a move which proved to be a mistake, as instead of allow their wings to be clipped they instead soared higher. The Union developed into what was called the Bauchi Discussion Circle as their was a larger audience which included the Emir of Bauchi and Senior Political Officer Mr. Knott.

  As the secretary Mallam Aminu was always the one to choose topics of debate, however his topics were always not what the Emirs wanted to hear therefore the discussion circle was forcibly closed in less than year. In just a few weeks Sa'adu and Aminu Kano transformed it and changed the name to Bauchi Community Center. At thier first meeting, Balewa arrived with a message from the Emir, which says  "As a member of the Emirs Council, I am hereby requested by the Emir to inform you that you are to disband, as al unions are forbidden". When others were still in shock Sa'adu asked, "Tell me, Sir, are you the executor of the order as well?". Balewa said he was only a messenger in which case Sa'adu said "we ask you to deliver our message to the Emir that we would not disband". 

  Political Career

 The government got weary of Aminu Kano and decided to send him to England, but there he also started another association which he brought back to Nigeria. The Northern Teachers Association (NTA) was founded in London when Mallam Aminu decided there was need for a northern association in London. The NTA also include Balewa and few others, later other professions were also allowed to join and with the permission of the Emirs the NTA became NPC (Northern People's Congress). With the expansion of the Umbrella came many problems, so when some radicals in Kano started a new party NEPU (Northern Elements Progressive Union), Aminu Kano jumped in and later became the live wire of the party even though he wasn't one of the founders.

  Nonetheless, because of his busy and inescapable presence in the fight for justice, Aminu Kano is the most remembered member of NEPU. It's high time Nigeria once again had someone like him.