all4one - @kaduru61

In the course of introducing my role model, I wish to highlight his and or their noble attributes as I attended recently his 39th Memorial Anniversary at the Aminu Kano Center for Democratic Studies and Training (AKCDST), Bayero University, Kano.

AN ICON PROFILE:

Mallam Aminu Kano 1920 - 1983

Mallam Aminu Kano was a member of the group of Nigerian Nationalists who fought for independence of Nigeria. Earlier he was a member of the Bauchi Discussion circle from where he launched attack in the British Indirect Rule System in Northern Nigeria.

He led a splinter group of young radicals out of the Northern People's Congress, NPC. Aminu Kano later formed the Northern Elements Progressive Union, NEPU. He was Deputy Chief whip of the Federal House of Representatives. He symbolised the opposition to the aristocratic and feudal actions of the Native Authorities in the North.

The late Mallam was an advocate of equality of all men and women, a fiscal system that favours heavy taxation of the rich and equal rights for women

Mallam died an extremely materially poor man on April 17, 1983 as he was preparing for the 1983 Presidential elections in which he was a front line candidate. He was only 63 years old. His spartan discipline, his unrelenting fight for the interest of the common man, especially in the North (Talakawa) and else where in Nigeria was well known.

Mallam"s idea on physical policy and his dogged fight against the feudal system in the immediate past independent North recommended him as a titan of all times and seasons.

@kaduru61 was a Youth Member of Mallam Aminu Kano Presidential Campaign Organisation in 1979. On his death on the 17th April, 1983, only the sum of One hundred and fourteen naira only was found in his Bank account. Yet, Mallam was a Federal Minister of several strategic Ministries, a Chief Whip if the Federal House of Representatives among others.

He was survived by a Daughter Hajiya Ibrahim Modibo whom I have close touch with, both as a Course mate at the Centre in Bompai Kano, Kano state and as associate on Social Activism.

At his demise, the battle fell on another patriotic, irrepressible, unassuming and austere icon Alhaji Dr Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, the former Governor of Old Kaduna state.

In keeping aflame the flag of activism, Mallam A.B Musa, a committed patriot and outstanding statesman of impeccable character ensured I was always by his side.

It is worthy of note that the only property owned by the late Mallam Aminu Kano (Family House) was donated for public good and converted to Aminu Kano Center for Democratic Studies and Training, a Department of Bayero University, Kano, Kano state.

Incidentally, @kaduru61 attended courses there in 2006, 2009 and 2014 respectively. These courses centred on Constitutionalism, Public Service, Transparency and Integrity.

Interestingly, Alhaji A.B Musa who took over at the demise of Mallam Aminu Kano lived a more spartan life.

In the year 2015 elections, the NEC of his party PRP met at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat, IBB Way in Uyo Akwa Ibom State and resolved to lend their support to the then President Good luck Jonathan as much better than Muhammadu Buhari.

As a result, he was invited to the Presidency for a Presidential Handshake that would go with huge sums of money. He refused to go. They sent a government official to his house in Malali Kaduna with a Prado Jeep and Money, he turned them back.
Even the 2019 presidential election, the party screened three Aspirants and disqualified them, mainly they could not convince the party how they made their money.

As a result, the APC leadership despatched three of their Cabinet Ministers Viz; Mallam Adamu Adamu, Education, Hadi Sirika, Aviation and Suleiman Bwari, Water Resources to our meeting venue at Royal Blue Sea Hotels and Suites, Issa Kaita Road, Malali Kaduna with open Cheque and fleet of vehicles to us to endorse President Muhammadu Buhari forca second term.

Alhaji A B Musa led us the entire National Executive of the People's Redemption Party to roundly reject both the money, vehicles and expected appointments in the government.

I witnessed a similar scenario in his house in Kaduna in June 2018 when Alhaji Atiku Abubakar wanted to take over the party and give huge fund, he rejected it.

In May 2014 when I attended my last Course at AKCDST in Kano, all of us were invited by the then Governor if Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido to government House Dutse for lunch. At the end of the gathering, we moved to Kaduna. I observed a black tinted latest model Prado Jeep without plate number in our convoy.

On arrival in Kaduna later in the day, the driver of the said jeep pulled out two envelops, one contained the documents of the car and accompanying keys while the fat and bigger one had what the protocol said was just money for fueling and according to them routine maintenance. All the attempts made to convince Alhaji A B Musa to take those items proved abortive.

He said, as was his usual refrain, it is not necessary. Such money should be used to take care of the poor masses who are in the majority.

Incidentally, he focussed on people oriented programmes within the brief period he was elected the Executive Governor of Kaduna state.

Having served him faithfully, from the year when he was impeached by the old Kaduna State House of Assembly because he refused to give them a bribe of ten thousand naira (N10,000) they demanded in order to approve his Commissioner Norminees, in addition to plots of land at choice areas of Kaduna, I could not, bur marvel, that in the 🌅 midst of moral depravity, there are people who stood up to be counted. I can go on and on to articulate the noble virtues of icons.

Is it in the area of accessibility, hospitality or HUMILITY, their records as far as I am concerned remains unbreakable.

My Role Models are; Mallam Aminu Kano and Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa.