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From Marafan to Marafan: Honoring a Legacy
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

From Marafan to Marafan: Honoring a Legacy

From Premium Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Opinion Named sources Outcome reported
  • Senator Yari has been honored with the title of Marafan, succeeding the late Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi.
  • Shinkafi, a former head of Nigeria's intelligence agency, was instrumental in establishing key security organizations.
  • The author, Femi Fani-Kayode, reflects on his close political mentorship under Shinkafi, who passed away in 2016.

Senator Yari has been bestowed the esteemed title of Marafan, stepping into the role previously held by the late Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi. The author, Femi Fani-Kayode, expresses his belief that Yari is highly deserving of this position and prays for his guidance in continuing Shinkafi's legacy.

I cannot think of anyone else who is more deserving of that title and revered position than Senator Yari and my prayer is that God will guide, lead and protect our new Marafan, and cause him to build on the great and noble legacy that his predecessor in office has established…

— Femi Fani-KayodeThe author's reflection on Senator Yari receiving the Marafan title.

Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, the former Marafan Sokoto, is remembered as a significant leader, elder statesman, and politician in Nigeria. He was a respected lawyer and a distinguished police officer who headed the Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO) in 1979. Shinkafi played a pivotal role in founding Nigeria's three-tier intelligence agencies: the State Security Service (SSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI).

These agencies were established based on recommendations from a committee he chaired under General Ibrahim Babangida's administration. Shinkafi was also a presidential aspirant in 1992, narrowly losing the nomination to Alhaji Adamu Ciroma. He passed away in 2016, leaving a void that has now been filled by Senator Yari's conferment of the title by the Sultan of Sokoto in 2024.

One of the greatest leaders, elder statesmen and politicians that Nigeria ever had was Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi (OFR), the Marafan Sokoto.

— Femi Fani-KayodeDescribing the legacy of Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi.

Fani-Kayode shares a personal connection, describing Shinkafi as a father figure who brought him into politics in 1990. He recounts being mentored by Shinkafi, the late Dr. Hameed Kusamotu, and General Halilu Akilu, serving as Shinkafi's special assistant and official spokesman during the 1992 presidential campaign. Fani-Kayode considers this period a great honor.

He brought me into politics in 1990, after my late and beloved father, Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode... handed me over to him...

— Femi Fani-KayodeRecounting his personal political journey under Shinkafi's mentorship.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Premium Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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