Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Buhari, takes final exit

The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari, has died. He died on Friday, April 17 at age 81.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, said the deceased died of COVID-19.

Announcing Kyari’s death via his verified Twitter handle, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, wrote @FemAdesina, “Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, passes on. May God rest his soul. Amen. Funeral arrangements to be announced soon.”

“The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment.

Kyari had tested positive for the coronavirus in March after a trip to Germany and Egypt.

Doctors attending to the late Chief of Staff had obtained his medical records from Wellington Hospital, St John’s Wood, London, which showed that he (Kyari) had some other ailments that could hamper his rate of recovery from COVID-19.

The Wellington Hospital, which is located in North London, is the largest independent hospital in the United Kingdom.

Kyari, in a letter on March 29, had said he was conveyed to Lagos on an air ambulance to do additional tests and observation, adding that he took the decision based on medical advice as a precautionary measure.

He further stated that he made his personal care arrangements to avoid further burdening the public health system, which faces so much pressure.

However, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, refused to disclose where Kyari was receiving treatment.

The Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, later said he did not know Kyari’s location thereby sparking reports that the President’s aide was not in any isolation centre.

Responding to a question during a recent Presidential task force briefing in Abuja, the health minister said Kyari’s location was not important, adding that the President’s chief of staff had a right to privacy.

Reacting to the news, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, described the death as shocking.

He said he had prayed for the recovery of the late chief of staff, adding that he was shocked to hear about his death.

He said, “This is shocking. I’m sad to hear this bad news. Why now? I wish to console with the President, members of his cabinet, the family members of Kyari and all his associates.

“The death is a reminder to all of us that whatever we are today, it is by the grace of God. He is the one that owns us and can call us at home at any time.  Once more, I pray for the repose of the soul of the distinguished Nigerian.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, have expressed shock to the passage of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

Former President Jonathan prayed that “Allah” strengthens his family and friends during this moment of grief.

In a separate tweet on Saturday morning, three politicians paid tributes to the departed CoS.

Expressing his shock to the death of the CoS, Atiku tweeted, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. I am saddened by the death of Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. May Allah SWT comfort his family, forgive his sins and grant him AlJannah Firdaus. Ameen.”

Lawan said death is inevitable and it only comes at an appointed time while praying for God to comfort Kyari’s family.

Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari, described the departed CoS as a “truly good man,  profoundly faithful and loyal to our country”.

Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said he was “deeply saddened by the news” while expressing condolences to his family.

Abba Kyari hailed from Borno State and was born on November 17, 1938. The 81-year-old was a lawyer, businessman and politician. In August 2015, Kyari was appointed as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of Warwick, England, in 1980.

 The late COS also held a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Law from the University of Cambridge, England and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1983. Kyari had worked as an Editor with the New Africa Holdings Limited, Kaduna Between 1988, and had served with the Borno State Executive Council as Commissioner for Forestry and Animal Resources in 1990. He also worked as an Executive Director, Management Services, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and was appointed a Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc in 2002. He served as Honorary Member of the Presidential Advisory Council on Investment in Nigeria between 2000 and 2005. Kyari was a holder of the Nigerian Honour Award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (O.O.N).

 Kyari who died after battling COVID-19 is survived by his wife and four children

According to Muslim rites, he has been buried in Abuja, just few hours after his remains were flown into Abuja from Lagos on Saturday, April 18.

Kyari was interred at exactly 11:20 a.m. at the military cemetery in Abuja’s Gudu neighbourhood amidst tears from family members and supporters.

The men who lowered the remains of Mr Kyari, from Borno State, were in full personal protective equipment as required by the ministry of health in the burial of coronavirus victims.