The Abba Kyari we knew, by Osinbajo, Alaafin, Ayokunle, Adesina, Fayemi, Malami, Ohanaeze, Peter Obi, Dakuku Peterside
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo, have expressed their heartfelt sympathies to President Muhammadu Buhari over the death of Malam Abba Kyari, his Chief of Staff.
The condolence message conveyed via Osinbajo’s twitter handle @ProfOsinbajo on Saturday in Abuja, also condoled with Kyari’s wife, Kulu, children and the entire family.
“Dolapo and I express our sympathies to the President, Mrs Kulu Kyari, the children, and members of the family on the passing of Mallam Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to the President.
“May the Lord comfort and be with you all,’’ Osinbajo said.
The Presidency had earlier announced the passage of Kyari.
Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, made the disclosure in a statement in Abuja.
”The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment; but died on Friday, April 17,” Adesina said.
Kyari had since been buried in Abuja.
The Presidency said that a condolence register would be opened at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) from Sunday for those who were able to use the window permitted for movement by the FCT administration.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Saturday commiserated with Buhari on the demise of Kyari.
CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, who commiserated with the president in a signed condolence letter in Lagos, expressed his sadness about the demise of Kyari.
He said that he was sad that the late Kyari contracted the virus abroad while on official duty.
“We are particularly sad that he contracted the virus while on official duty abroad.
“He has thus sacrificed his life in the course of service to his motherland. That spoke much of his patriotic devotion to the greatness of our nation,” he said.
He described the death as a ‘big blow’ to the Buhari administration and prayed for the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss by all the bereaved.
“We promise to continue to pray for you for enhanced wisdom and patience to lead a great country like this.
“Our prayer to the Lord is that He grants you, his family and the presidency in general the fortitude to bear the loss.
“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, glory be to the name of the Lord, Job 1 verse 21.
“May the Lord heal all others who are lying sick as a result of the attack of this ruthless virus,” he prayed.
Ayokunle also prayed that the Lord grant the nation reprieve from the scourge of this virus very soon so everyone might pick up their lives and businesses again in Jesus mighty name.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has commiserated with Buhari over Kyari’s death.
In a statement his Chief Press Officer, Bode Durojaiye, Oba Adeyemi described the deceased as a detribalised, dedicated, hardworking and committed top government functionary whose love for the country is worthy of emulation.
He said Nigerians would continue to remember the late Chief of Staff for his steadfastness, uprightness and unity of purpose.
The paramount ruler used the occasion to tell Nigerians that COVID-19 is real and no respecter of age, Creed, religion or ethnicity.
” I urge all and sundry not to disregard and disobey all rules and regulations laid down by both State and the Federal Governments, but to strictly abide by them. Corona virus is real, though not a death sentence, but timely detection and cure saves lives”.
The royal father, who also sympathised with the deceased family, the Kanuri tribe and the people of Borno State, prayed Allah to grant the soul of the late Chief of Staff eternal rest.
To the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Nigeria has missed a patriot in Kyari.
He said this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday by Dr Umar Gwandu his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations.
He said the news of the death of late Kyari flung the country in deep pain and immutable agony.
“Kyari was a paragon of virtue, patriotic citizen who rendered selfless service to Nigeria.
“As a dedicated individual with an unflinching commitment, his passion to nation building was unwavering, he was indeed, loyalty personified.
“I express my heartfelt condolences to the Presidency, the family of Late Malam Abba Kyari and the entire nation on this irreparable lost.
The Minister added that the death is indeed a crumble of a giant pillar.
The minister prayed the Almighty Allah to grant him Jannatul Firdaus.
The President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, says he is saddened by the death of Kyari.
Adesina said this in his verified Twitter handle on Saturday.
Kyari, who died Friday night, had tested positive for COVID-19, a pandemic currently ravaging the world.
“My thoughts and prayers are with his family. I commiserate with the president Buhari.
“May God comfort you and the entire government and may his soul rest in peace ,” Adesina said.
The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has commiserated with Buhari on the death of Kyari.
Fayemi who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), also commiserated with the family of the late Chief of Staff as well as members of the President’s cabinet, describing Mallam Kyari’s death as saddening and devastating.
Fayemi in a condolence message in Ado- Ekiti on Saturday, described Kyari’s death as a great tragedy and a monumental loss to Nigeria at a very critical period.
The governor said Kyari’s death should serve as a battle cry of unity for all Nigerians irrespective of their affiliations to join hands with the government to wage a total war against the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said Kyari will be sorely missed by the Presidency, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Federal Executive Council and other statutory bodies he served as member in his capacity as CoS to the President.
Fayemi described Kyari as a reliable partner of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), which he chairs, on issues of development of the Nigerian federation.
He further described Kyari as a committed patriot and altruistic servant who dedicated his life to the service of his fatherland both in the private and public sectors.
According to him, the late Chief of Staff was a goal getter who delivered on any assignment committed to his hands because of his belief that service should always come first.
The Governor said Kyari played a part in the historic victory of the APC in the 2015 general election and the equally unforgettable re-election achieved by the party in the 2019 polls.
While noting that Kyari died while on active national service, Dr Fayemi said his sense of selflessness is worthy of emulation by all and sundry.
Fayemi said: “While the nation is mourning the death of Malam Abba Kyari, his death should unite all Nigerians irrespective of their leanings to join hands with the government to defeat COVID-19.
“COVID-19 is a common enemy that we must all defeat, Mallam Kyari’s death should further fire our collective resolve to fight the pandemic to a standstill.
“On behalf of the government and people of Ekiti State, I commiserate with the immediate family of the deceased on this very huge loss. I also commiserate with President Muhammadu Buhari on the loss of a dependable ally and a loyal aide. May the Almighty Allah grant the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an apex pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has commiserated with Buhari over the death of Kyari.
The condolence message was contained in a statement by the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Nnia Nwodo, in Enugu on Saturday.
“It is with shock that I learnt of the demise of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, as a result of the deadly Coronavirus.
“On behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, I commiserate with President Muhammadu Buhari and the good people of Nigeria on this unfortunate development.
“With the death of Kyari, all Nigerians should now understand that nobody, both high and low, is exempted from this ravaging pandemic.
“We should observe strictly all the precautionary measures put in place by government and medical professionals, especially social distancing.
“This exhortation has become more imperative because from reports, the virus is said not to be a city case alone anymore, but that it has crept into communities, making it more ominous and dangerous,’’ he said.
The immediate past Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has described the death of Kyari as a big blow to Buhari, Nigeria and indeed, all those who knew him.
Responding to the demise of the elder statesman and former banking guru, Peterside stated that his demise caused by the dreaded Coronavirus came at a time the nation was putting together all resources to tackle the pandemic.
He noted that the late Kyari was a decent gentleman, who acted as a father to all and was always calm no matter the situation.
“I don’t think there is anybody who met Abba Kyari and didn’t have enormous respect for him. He had a calm mien from long years of being in public and private sectors; he was always willing to offer admonitions where necessary. Everybody loved him and he carried on with the functions of his office with simplicity and humility.
“He was a pillar behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and always did his best for the progress of the country.
“We will surely miss his fatherly disposition and managerial acumen in the discharge of his responsibilities to the president and Nigeria,” he stated.
He commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari and the people of Bornu State over the loss of their illustrious son.
While describing Kyari as a “diligent and resourceful administrator,” Peterside stressed that he had left indelible prints in the sands of time and would forever be remembered by all those he came across in his private, business and public endeavours.
The PDP Vice Presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Mr Peter Obi, on Saturday, condoled with Buhari on the death of Kyari.
Obi, in a statement in Abuja by his Media Adviser, Valentine Obienyem, condoled with Buhari and Kyari’s family, urging them to take the loss, even though painful, as the will of God.
He prayed God, whom he said had called the late chief of staff home, to grant his soul eternal rest.
“I pray to God to grant Kyari’s family the needed strength and comfort over the loss of their patriarch.
“I also pray God to grant all who had died of Coronavirus eternal rest, and through His divine healing hands, touch and clear the world of the deadly COVID-19 disease,” Obi said.
The former Governor of Anambra State urged Nigerians to continue to abide by all the regulations and protocols stipulated by governmental and global health agencies to stay safe from Coronavirus infection.
The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum has described the death of Kyari as tragic.
The forum in a statement by its President, Mr Akin Malaolu, on Saturday in Abuja, described Kyari as a good man, wishing his soul to rest in peace.
Malaolu urged Nigerians, especially the leaders to take necessary precaution in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic and other matters of National interest.
“At this stage, we must accept that no one has an impregnable armour that provide shield from the virus.
“As leaders of thought in the southwest, we must warn that COVID-19 which is an ultra-speed moving virus has gained strength both in distance and spread, but can be contained through high premium to every life and patriotic deployment of resources.
“If the nation is lucky, we may exit from general lockdown in mid July 2020. We must pray for cure and vaccine to come to our aid.
“It is pertinent that leaders, who have access to public funds do not abuse the trust, they should ensure that relief materials are not diverted.”
Malaolu, therefore, advised the general public to be more orderly during this period so that the relief materials get to the needy.
“No government has ever provided all needs of its citizen, but rate of amelioration is highly important,” he said.
