Senator Abdul Aziz Yari Named New Marafan Sokoto

Femi Fani-Kayode reflects on the legacy of Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, who was a prominent elder statesman and politician in Nigeria, serving as the head of the defunct Nigerian Security Organization (NSO) during President Shehu Shagari's administration in 1979. Shinkafi was instrumental in establishing Nigeria's three-tier intelligence agencies: the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DMI).

He was also a presidential aspirant for the National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1992, where he narrowly lost the nomination to Alhaji Adamu Ciroma. Fani-Kayode recalls Shinkafi's mentorship and influence on his political career, particularly through his late father, Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode.

Following Shinkafi's passing ten years ago in 2016, the title of Marafan Sokoto has remained vacant. Senator Abdul Aziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, has been named the new Marafan Sokoto, a decision supported by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III.