Ten years without my leader, Umaru Shinkafi — by Femi Fani-Kayode

10 years ago, on July 6th 2016, you left us Baba.

I remember the last time I saw you and the words of comfort and encouragement you offered me even at my darkest moment.

From 1984 when I was just 24 years old and I first had the honor and privilege of being close to you, you never judged me and you were always patient and kind to me.

You were President of the Lagos Polo Club then and all of us used to gather in your office just round thr corner at Ribadu road, Ikoyi after playing Polo.

After that, when I was lucky, in the evenings I would escort you to your home at what was then Queens Drive where I would seek your wise counsel on so many things including plans for my future and my private life.

You always made time for me Baba and even where I went wrong you always waited for me to retrace my steps and come back because you knew where my heart lay.

And when I did come back you were always there waiting with open arms.

I remember when I lost my dear father Chief Remi Fani-Kayode, the Balogun of Ife, in 1995 and how his passing broke my heart and tore me apart.

I never thought I would recover from that loss and what saved me was the fact that I had just finished two years at the Bible seminary in Ghana and had been given a new lease of life by God.

I remember how your goodself together with the late Dr. Hamed Kusamotu, the late Alhaji Zakaria Idris, the late Alhaji Kaloma Ali, the late Alhaji Aziz Ariseekola Alao and your other lieutenants and loyalists rallied around me, my mother and my siblings at that difficult time.

You told me that you would always be there for me and that from the day my father handed me over to you in 1989 and you led me into the turbulent seas of politics I had been part of you.

Those words kept me going throughout my life and the fact that I have had to live the last ten years without you guiding, strengthening, encouraging and consoling me in difficult times and rejoicing with me at the best of times saddens me.

It is not the same without you Baba.

Everything has changed. Everyone has changed.

Yet I remember the days we had and all that you taught me and I smile and soldier on.

Continue to rest well Marafan and know that you are loved and missed not just by your wives, biological children and grandchildren but also by those of us that are members of your wider family and that you raised, taught and guided from different parts of our country for so many years.

You were there for us all and we are proudly part of your great legacy.

I was on a wild path for much of my youth but you set me on the right one and kept me there.

You were my inspiration. Without you where would I have been today?

I love and miss you and I always will.

Hu ta Baba!

–Fani-Kayode is Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa