By Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto
Former Presidential aspirant in the third Republic and the late Marafan Sokoto, Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, who died at a London Hospital on Wednesday, was buried on Friday around 2.50 pm at the Hubbaren Shehu in Sokoto, the burial site of former Sultans and the Caliphate’s nobles.
The funeral prayer was held after the Friday prayer at the Sultan Bello Mosque, adjacent to the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto.
The Janaza prayer was led by the Chief Imam of the mosque, Alhaji Usman Akwarra.
The prayer was attended by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III and Emirs of Gwandu, Argungu, Anka and Zurmi.
Governors of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Borno and Deputy Governors of Zamfara and Kebbi States, Ibrahim Wakkala and Samaila Dabai were also in attendance.
The federal government’s delegation was led by the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau (rtd) and included Ministers of Justice (Abubakar Malami), Water Resources (Sulaiman Adamu), Aviation (State) Hadi Sirika, Defence (Mansur Dan Ali, the Director General of State Security Services (SSS) Lawal Daura, and Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.
Members of the National Assembly who attended were Senators Aliyu Wamakko, Bala Ibn Na’allah, Tijjani Yahaya Kaura, Adamu Aliero, and Bala Hassan, among others.
Others include Generals Aliyu Gusau, Muhammadu Wushishi and Mamman Magoro.
Also at the mosque were former governors of Sokoto and Zamfara, Malam Yahaya Abdulkarim and Mahmud Shinkafi, who is the deceased’s younger brother, Ismaila Isa Funtua and Inuwa Abdulkadir.
Speaking when the Federal Government delegation visited the Sultan at his place, Dambazau described Shinkafi as a statesman who served his nation diligently.
“Shinkafi’s demise is not only a loss to his family, Sokoto and Zamfara states, but to the entire nation.
“He did his best for the country. We pray Allah to grant him Jannat al Firdausi,” Dambazau said.
The deceased was the former Director General of the National Security Organisation during the tenure of Second Republic President Shehu Shagari and was a presidential aspirant during the third republic under the platform of the defunct National Republican convention in 1992.
