k h a l i f a

🇳🇬🇬🇧

[Femi Fani-Kayode @realFFK]

FROM MARAFAN TO MARAFAN

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

He was a respected lawyer & a highly acclaimed & eagle-eyed police officer and in 1979 during the administration of President Shehu Shagari he was appointed as the head of the now defunct Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO), Nigeria's premier & dreaded intelligence agency.

He was the father of Nigeria's 3-tier Intelligence Agencies of the DSS, NIA & DMI & these agencies were all established as a consequence of the recommendations of the commitee that he headed under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.

He was also a presidential aspirant on the platform of the now defunct NRC in 1992 & lost the nomination as flagbearer for the party by a very narrow margin to Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, the Madakin Fika & the former Minister of Finance in the Government of President Shehu Shagari.

I had the distinct honor & privilege of being close to Marafan & was more like a son to him rather than just a political mentee or protegee.

He brought me into politics in 1990 after my beloved father, Chief Remi Fani-Kayode, the former Deputy Premier of the Western Region, the former Regional Minister of Chieftaincy & Local Government Afffairs & the Balogun of Ife, handed me over to him & the Babangida regime lifted the ban on politics.

Marafan & General Halilu Akilu, the Head of Military Intelligence in General Babangida's Government taught me, led me & guided me for all those years & in 1992 I was appointed not just as Marafan's Special Assistant during the presidential campaign but also the spokesman of Choice '92 his presidential campaign organisation.
It was & remains the greatest honor of my life.

Sadly Marafan passed on ten years ago in 2016 & his title, which is undoubtedly the most reverred & respected in the Caliphate, remained vacant for a number of years.

It gladdened my heart that in 2024 the title was finally conferred by His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, on my friend & brother Senator Abdul Aziz Yari, the former Governor of Zamfara state, who was not only very close to the late Marafan & indeed was one of his most treasured & closest protegees but who is also married to his daughter.

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

Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi provided strong & decisive leadership for us all & more than any other political leader in our history he cemented the strong relationship & unbreakable bridge that exists between the people of the North & the South West of Nigeria.

He knew that this was the key to our national unity & stability & he worked hard to build that bridge & establish that strong bond which exists till today.

For this & so much more he was loved by all & I have little doubt that Senator Abdul Aziz Yari will continue the great work that he started & achieve the same.

As Sadaukin Shinkafi, a traditional title which was bestowed upon me in 2020 by His Royal Highness, the Emir of Shinkafi, Alhaji Mohammed Makwase & which I cherish, I wish our new Marafan all the best & he can always rely on my friendship & support.

Ours is no longer a political association as members of the same political party but it is now one of family & legacy which is enshrined & entrenched in the traditional institution of the Caliphate.

I wish you the very best my brother & each time you speak & do all that you do it brings back fond memories of our father, the late Marafan who we both loved so much.

I wish you well in this great calling & indeed all of your future endeavours.

God bless you & the people, leaders & traditional rulers of Zamfara state & God bless our beloved nation Nigeria.

(FFK)

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