The Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Malam Bashir Ahmed, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, late Abba Kyari, as one of the most misunderstood persons in the history of Nigeria.
The Presidency had in the early hours of Saturday announced the death of Abba Kyari, who had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19.
Kyari died on Friday.
In what appears to be a tribute to late Abba Kyari, on his Twitter page, @BashirAhmaad, in Abuja on Saturday, the presidential aide also described the deceased as a man of honour, who sacrificed his life for Nigeria.
“Abba Kyari certainly was one of the most misunderstood people in the history of Nigeria.
“Those who had the opportunity to know him personally will tell you how extremely a good person he was.
“He was a man of honour and will be remembered as someone who sacrificed his life for this country,’’ Ahmed twitted.
Kyari was first appointed as Chief of Staff to the President in August 2015, and reappointed in 2019 by President Buhari.
Kyari, aged 81, left behind a wife and four children and would be buried later in the day.
Since his appointment as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2015, Abba Kyari was a major player in Nigeria’s central government till he died on Friday.
He was among the first key officers to be reappointed for a second stint when Buhari was re-elected as President in 2019.
In March, he tested positive to the coronavirus and was reported to have travelled to Lagos for treatment.
Not much was heard about him thereafter, until the Presidency, in a statement issued by Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced his passage.
Born in November 1938, Kyari graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Warwick, in 1980 and also received a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Cambridge and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1983.
A year later, he obtained a master’s degree in law from the University of Cambridge and later attended the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland.
He participated in the Programme for Management Development at the Harvard Business School, in 1992 and 1994, respectively, and practised law while working at Fani-Kayode and Sowemimo for some time after his return to Nigeria.
From 1988 to 1990, he was Editor with the New Africa Holdings Limited Kaduna and had a stint as commissioner in his native Borno State in 1990.
For the next five years, he was the secretary to the board of African International Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Bank of Credit and Commerce International.
He also held positions as an Executive Director at the United Bank for Africa, and later the Chief Executive Officer.
In 2002, he was appointed a board director of Unilever Nigeria and later served on the board of Exxon Mobil Nigeria.
Left behind to mourn the rather quiet officer are his wife and four children, numerous relatives, and a Nigerian nation many agree he served diligently.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, also mourned Kyari.
The statement reads:
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) mourns the death of Mallam Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff and one of the closest advisers to President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Even in death, the fond memories and indelible strides Mallam Abba Kyari left on earth will be celebrated for a long time. We remember a cerebral Nigerian who excelled in his private dealings, professional endevours and public service.
“The president has indeed lost a competent, trusted, loyal, strong right hand man and longtime adviser who promoted, protected and defended his interest in good times and adversity.
“The Party condoles with Mallam Abba Kyari’s immediate family, the President, leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the people and government of Borno state over the painful loss. As Mallam Abba Kyari is buried according to Islamic rites, may Almighty Allah be merciful and grant him Aljanat Firdaus.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, described the death as shocking and an unfortunate surprise.
The Ooni, in a statement on Saturday in Ile-Ife by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, described the late Kyari as a coolheaded gentleman and great respecter of the traditional institution.
The monarch said that the deceased, until his death, handled his position as a public servant with dignity and dedication arising from his fervent belief and incorruptible patriotism and commitment to the Nigerian project.
The statement said in part: “Ooni of Ife has received news of the death of Alhaji Abba Kyari with a rude shock and he sees it as a very unfortunate surprise.
“Late Abba Kyari was a detribalised Nigerian and coolheaded fine gentleman who had treated traditional institutions with love and respect.
“Ooni immediately after the news was confirmed made a phone communication to the wife and children of the late Chief of Staff.
“He prayed for the gentle soul of the deceased and the fortitude for the family to bear the irreparable loss.”
The Ooni, who urged Nigerians to take the ongoing fight against the pandemic more seriously, described the virus as a ruthless enemy of humanity that must be collectively defeated.
Ogunwusi also prayed for the souls of the thousands of victims already killed by COVID-19 around the world.
He urged Nigerians to keep to the rules and regulations already set by the government as measures to combat the pandemic.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has joined other Nigerians to mourn Kyari, whom he described as a close friend.
Onyeama gave the condolence in a statement via his official twitter handle @geoffreyonyeama on Saturday.
“In deep shock and sorrow at the passing of Abba Kyari, a best friend and brother, chief of staff to President @MBuhari.
“A true gem and great Nigerian Patriot. Irreplaceable,’’ the minister twitted.
Also in a statement, Ms Sarah Sanda, Special Assistant, Media to the Minister, said that Kyari and Onyeama have been old time best friends and classmates from the University of Warwick, Coventry, England, since 1977.
She recalled that as best friends, the late Abba Kyari was the “best man” at Onyeama’s wedding, and godfather to his first son.
The Chief of Staff to the President died of COVID-19 complications.
Kyari had tested positive to coronavirus after he returned from official engagements in Germany and Egypt.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State expressed sadness over the passing away of Kyari.
Okowa said he was pained by the fact that the elder statesman died of the dreaded COVID-19.
The governor’s condolence was conveyed in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Saturday in Asaba.
He said that Kyari’s death was a huge loss to the Presidency and the entire nation, considering his strategic role in the current administration.
He commiserated with the family, President Buhari and the entire Presidency over the loss, and urged them to be consoled by the legacies of integrity and capacity exhibited by the elder statesman.
Okowa assured the President and the entire Kyari family of the support and prayers of his family, Delta State Government and people of the state at this trying period.
“It is with great sadness that I, my family, the government and people of Delta commiserate with Mr President, the Kyari family and the entire Presidency on the passing away of octogenarian elder statesman, Mallam Abba Kyari.
“His death remains a great loss, not just to his family, but President Buhari’s administration, given his coordinating responsibilities to the President.
“Indeed, the late Abba Kyari was very supportive of the President and I can only imagine the grief and sorrow that has befallen our dear President on this loss.
“Mallam Kyari will be sorely missed by the Presidency and all those whose lives he had touched in several positive ways,” the statement said.
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State also condoled with Buhari on the death of Kyari.
Bello sent the condolence message to the presidency on Saturday morning.
In the message, the governor also sympathised with the people of Borno over the sad loss.
“On behalf of my family, the government and the good people of Kogi, I commiserate with the entire presidency and the people of Borno over the loss.
“Please, accept my deepest condolences on your bereavement,’’ the condolence message, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogu Mohammed, stated.
According to Bello, Kyari lived a good life of honesty, commitment to nation building and service to God and humanity.
He called on Nigerians to emulate late Mallam Kyari.
“He undoubtedly had been a pillar of support to you (President Buhari), in your exemplary journey since your assumption of office in 2015 as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“His (Kyari) wise counsel to you in the course of your selfless service to the people of Nigeria will not be forgotten easily.
“While I pray the Almighty Allah to give you the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and grant late Kyari eternal rest, please accept my heartfelt condolences,’’ Bello said.
Former Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, (PDP Enugu-West), joined other well-meaning Nigerians in mourning Kyari.
Ekweremadu, on his Twitter handle, @iamekweremadu, expressed deep sadness and heartfelt condolences to Kyari’s immediate family, President Buhari and the entire Presidency.
He also prayed to God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal repose.
“I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing on of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari.
“It is a heavy loss to the Presidency and the nation to which he gave his all.
“My heartfelt condolences go to his family, the Presidency and the entire nation.
“May his soul rest in peace,’’ Ekweremadu prayed.
Dr Safiyanu Isyaku, a lecturer with the Department of Religious Studies, Gombe State University, described the death as a loss to the nation.
In an interview in Gombe on Saturday, Isiaku said Kyari died while serving his fatherland.
“He served this country for many years, trying to make it better; for somebody to spend his time,energy and knowledge serving his people, he is a hero.
“He served this country to the extent that he went to Germany to submit an agreement that will improve the wellbeing of Nigerians and in the process, he paid with his life,” he said.
While reacting to mixed feelings by some Nigerians, Isyaku said as human being, nobody is perfect.
”You can do good and sometimes your actions may not be of interest to people,” he stressed.
The don also advised Nigerians who still believed that coronavirus was a Western Conspiracy, to come to terms with reality and heed to the advice of government and health experts.
“ This is not the first pandemic on earth. The allegation that it was created by Western world is not true. Look at how citizens from the Western nations are dying from the virus.
“Will they create what will kill their people? The truth of the matter is that coronavirus is real and we have to take all the necessary precautions,’’ he said.
Two civil society organisations also condoled with Buhari on the death of Kyari.
The CSOs are the Southern Nigeria Peoples Mandate (SNPM) and Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO).
Mr Augustine Chukwudum, the president of SNPM gave the condolence on Saturday in Enugu, describing the passage of Kyari as “sudden and shocking”.
“This is a great tragedy to the Presidency and the entire APC family.
“We urge President Buhari and Kyari’s family to take heart and see it as the will of Almighty Allah,’’ SNPM said in a statement.
Also reacting, the Chairman of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Anambra State, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, said that the body sincerely commiserated with President Buhari, APC, friends and well-wishers of Mallam Kyari.
“The sorrow we bear over the death of our loved ones is the price we must pay for having had them in our lives,’’ Ezekwueme stated.
He prayed for the eternal repose of the departed soul and fortitude for his loved ones to bear the irreparable lost.
“I wish to reiterate CLO postulation that COVI-19 is not only real but greatest threat to humanity health wise, economically, socially, political and religiously.
“The despicable and most painful death of Kyari is an indication that coronavirus pandemic is no respecter of person.
“Relentless efforts must be made by all to exterminate the pandemic,’’ the CLO chairman said.
