Senator Abdul Aziz Yari to be conferred Marafan Sokoto title

Femi Fani-Kayode pays tribute to Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, a respected elder statesman and politician in Nigeria, who served as the head of the defunct Nigerian Security Organization (NSO) during Shehu Shagari's presidency. Shinkafi was instrumental in establishing Nigeria's three-tier intelligence agencies and was a key political figure during the Babangida regime.

He was also a candidate for the National Republican Convention in 1992 but lost the nomination to Alhaji Adamu Ciroma. Fani-Kayode recalls Shinkafi's influence on his own political career, noting the honor of serving as Shinkafi's special assistant during the 1992 presidential campaign.

Following Shinkafi's death in 2016, the title of Marafan Sokoto remained vacant until it is set to be conferred upon Senator Abdul Aziz Yari in 2024, who is expected to uphold Shinkafi's legacy and strengthen relationships across Nigeria.