President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday commiserated with the government and people of Sokoto State on the passing away of Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, a former presidential candidate.
The late Shinkafi was 79 years old when he passed away on Wednesday afternoon at the Harefield Hospital, Hill End Road, Harefield, Middlesex, in the United Kingdom after a prolonged illness.
Sources at the Palace of Sultan of Sokoto indicated that the deceased passed away in the company of his wives, children and extended family members.
The late politician was born in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State in January 1937. He attended Sokoto Middle School, later Barewa College, Zaria, and was called to the Bar in 1974.
He was acting Federal Commissioner of External Affairs and headed a number of OAU mediation commissions and served as the pioneer head of the Nigeria Security Organisation (NSO). He was at one time the Chairman of International bank for West Africa and since 2012, he served as the Pro Chancellor of Sokoto State University.
President Buhari him as an expert whose contributions to the development of the security architecture of Nigeria remains indelible, adding that others carried on where he left off.
“The President recalls that the former Federal Commissioner of Internal Affairs and boss of the National Security Organisation (NSO), played frontline roles in the activities leading to the eventual return and enthronement of democracy in the country.
“He calls on family members, friends and associates of the departed community leader who held the Marafan Sokoto traditional title to take solace in the fact that the late Umaru Shinkafi played the parts assigned to him diligently , conscientiously and patriotically , enjoining them to emulate the good virtues that he left behind,” said a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina.
To Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto, Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, Marafan Sokoto, who died Wednesday afternoon at a London hospital was a true statesman whose selfless and meritorious service to God, country and humanity was felt by all.
In a message of condolence issued in Sokoto by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal described Shinkafi as a distinguished legal luminary, security expert, politician with conscience and great community leader and mobiliser.
“Marafa’s death has closed a chapter in the life of one Nigeria’s most valuable public officers who made his mark in both public and private sectors. He was a truly passionate Nigerian whose invaluable contributions to issues of national interest will be greatly missed.
“His law office served as training ground for many aspiring lawyers in Sokoto State and beyond.
While condoling his immediate family, the people and government of Zamfara State and the Sultanate Council of Sokoto, Tambuwal prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest,” he said.
The former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described Mr. Shinkafi as a remarkably decent and disciplined politician who would be greatly missed by Nigerians.
In a condolence message issued in Abuja on Wednesday by his media office, former Vice President Abubakar recalled that the late Marafan Sokoto was one of the most intelligent, visceral and deeply informed and principled politicians he had ever known.
According to Atiku, the late Umaru Shinkafi was so independent minded that he and his political associates were denied registration by the General Sani Abacha military government, and that the deceased was never timid to forcefully express his opinion on national issues.