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 … - Aminu Kano

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.

I hated government that sat on people

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.