Why dad always talks about Aminu Kano- Aisha Tanko Yakassai

Weekly Trust: How would you describe your father away from public eye? Aisha Tanko Yakassai: To be honest, my father is the same, whether in public or at home. Of course, he is a bit more relaxed when he is at home. But generally, he is the same person. He treats us the same way […]

Weekly Trust: How would you describe your father away from public eye?
Aisha Tanko Yakassai: To be honest, my father is the same, whether in public or at home. Of course, he is a bit more relaxed when he is at home. But generally, he is the same person. He treats us the same way he treats outsiders. My father is one of the few elder statesmen that I know who open their doors to the public. In as much as my dad is at home, you need no introduction to see him, nor fill any form. At his free time, mostly in the evening, we sit with him and chat, sometimes about national issues, sometimes his life experiences, other times we joke and tease one another. It all depends on the situation.
WT: How does he unwind?
Yakassai: At his free time, he mostly watches television, especially international news channels, as well as local TV stations. He also reads a lot. He has a library in his living room; he also sits with his family and enjoys some quality time. He likes football occasionally, especially when Nigeria is playing at international events.  He is your true family man in every definition of it.  
WT: What is it about childhood with him you wish you could have forever?
Yakassai: As a married woman with kids, he still considers me, his little girl, he hasn’t changed in making sure I am okay, I still go to him for most of my issues to seek his advice. I am very close to him up till now. I don’t think that will change because he is truly a source of inspiration to me, I look up to him on so many levels, for his guidance and wisdom. I thank the almighty Allah for keeping him for us this long, and I pray he will stay around a little longer to tap from his fountain of knowledge.  
WT: What was the common phrase of caution he used for you and your siblings while growing up?  
Yakassai: My father is a man with many vocabularies. That’s one of the reasons I like being around him. He can explain something to you twice but with different wordings and examples.  But for a word of caution, I doubt if I can specifically point at something that he regularly uses, it’s usually whatever comes to his mind at that particular moment.  
WT: Which of his attributes would you say you’ve inherited?
Yakassai: His generosity. Whatever my father has is for the people. He is always helping those in need, to the best of his ability. He doesn’t have much to end your poverty, but you cannot come to him seeking for assistance without him doing his best. In as much as it is not something that is dishonest or fishy. This is one of the things I believe I took from him from his good qualities.  
WT: What is the best advice on relationship has he given you?
Yakassai: This is a general one, he did not specifically give it to me, but over the years, I’ve learned to interact with different sets of people, just like he did. Through these interactions, I’ve come to know that every person I meet, every relationship I entered into, there’s something to learn from it.
WT: How sociable is he?
Yakassai: Well, at almost 90 years, of course he is not as active as he used to be. But he is a very sociable person. I remember in his book how he mentioned that he used to be the talk of the town in his 20s. And for you to be that, it means you were very sociable. I still remember during (former president Shehu) Shagari’s regime, our house was the meeting point of his friends, they will come there, eat and gist all night. Basically, he is a very sociable person I must say.  
WT: If he had to relive a day in his life, which do you think it would it be?
Yakassai: I can’t say it is one particular day, but I think during his struggles with Malam Aminu Kano, was a moment that played a very prominent role in his life. It shaped him in so many ways and I believe those days will be the ones he would want to relive.  
WT: What instantly puts a smile on his face?
Yakassai: His grandchildren. Absolutely! He loves being around them, teasing them and playing with them. He always has a gift for them when they visit him every day; be it sweets, biscuits, or even gives them money to go out and buy things like ice cream, shawarma and so on.
WT: How do you think the public views him?
Yakassai: I believe people have tremendous respect for him. Of course there are those that may disagree with some of his views, but many are aware of the sacrifices he has made for this country. I see him as someone who is very objective, who is selfless and a nationalist, who has given a lot to the development of this nation, and he is still doing so at the age of 90, which is indeed a remarkable achievement that cannot easily be wished away.  
WT: While growing up, when you did something wrong, what reaction of his did you fear the most?  
Yakassai: Well, I was very naughty to be honest, just little things expected of children which is natural. But what I dreaded the most was when you do something, he will tell you that in all his life, he hasn’t seen a fool like you. So, I tried as much as possible not to offend him in order not to hear that from him. It is the worse than any insult to be honest.  
WT: What did he enjoy the most about his being a politician?
Yakassai: Ironically, as a politician, he fought against the injustice of the traditional institutions way back, especially during their early NEPU days, they were always at loggerheads with the traditional institutions. Because my father and the likes of late Malam Aminu Kano and their associates were at the forefront of resisting the injustices at that time and were fighting for the emancipation of the masses. It is only of recent that he was conferred with two traditional titles, one from the eastern part of the country and the other from the north. So, I see him more as that progressive politician that I grew up with. And that’s why, till today, he talks about Malam Aminu Kano always.  
WT: As his child, did you see him as a politician or simply as your dad?
Yakassai: Simply my dad. Like I said earlier, even he himself is trying to adjust to his new status as a traditional title-holder, more so we his children. Someone that has spent almost all his life being who he is cannot change overnight to be something else. So, I think the rest of my siblings and I will continue to see him simply as dad.  
WT: How has being his daughter impacted on/influenced you?
Yakassai: In so many ways, because of the close relationship I have with him, and because of his immense knowledge, he is indeed a very important and key player in what I’ve become in life. He has taught me many things, from how to interact with people, to simple things like family values and good upbringing of my kids. If you are willing to learn, he is ever willing to teach you. He never gets tired of that.
WT: What is his philosophy of life?
Yakassai: Just live it. He believes that life should be lived one day at a time. Of course, he always emphasises the need to get good education, which is the foundation for a bright future.  
WT: What is a trait he has that many don’t know about?
Yakassai: I would say his daily routine of going round the house in the morning or when he gets back from a journey. He has this routine of going to his wives, all four, every day when he comes out from his room in the morning or afternoon, as the case may be; or when he returns from a journey, he always goes round first before entering his living room. I really like that about him.