Category: Africa

Following the death of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, condolence messages now trail Mallam Abba Kyari’s passing.

Among prominent persons who have reacted to the demise of the late administrator is Former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

In a message posted on his verified twitter page, the presidential candidate in the 2019 general election wrote: “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”.

Former Presidnet Goodluck Jonathan has also condoled with Prsident Buhari and the Kyari family. He wrote in a tweet “May Allah grant him Al Jannah Firdaus & strengthen his family & friends during this moment of grief.”

A one-time Senator who represented Kaduna Central, Shehu Sanni also noted that the President has lost a trusted & loyal friend. Sanni described Abba Kyari as “a man who took the bullets of his master with smiles, calmness & silence. We knew his cap and his colors but never his mind or his own side of his story. He will be missed.”

A staunch critic of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani Kayode has commiserated with the Federal Government over the loss of its Chief of Staff.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity confirmed that the former Aviation Minister called to condole with President Buhari.

“Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, phones in to condole with Presidency on passage of Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. A great lesson for those who rejoice in evil. Fani-Kayode is morbidly anti-Buhari, but human enough to express his condolence.”

The late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, will be buried on Saturday (today).

This was made known by the Personal Assistant on New Media to the President, Bashir Ahmad.

However, Ahmad did not state in his tweet where prayer service would be held for the late CoS or where in Abuja he would be buried.

His tweet read: “Mallam Abba Kyari will be buried later today in Abuja according to Islamic rites.

In his last statement to Nigerians, which incidentally was rare through his time in office, Abba Kyari had urged Nigerians to be calm in the face of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

Kyari appreciated the efforts of frontline workers: “I want to thank all our fantastic, talented and brave healthcare professionals, working across the country in such a difficult time; all the good Samaritans looking out for the most vulnerable in our communities.”

He also stated that he hoped to be back at his desk soon, alas he would never be back.

Abba Kyari’s last words to Nigerians: The full statement.

I am writing to let you know that on medical advice, I will transfer to Lagos later today for additional tests and observation. This is a precautionary measure: I feel well, but last week, I tested positive for coronavirus, the pandemic that is sweeping the world. I have followed all the protocols government has announced to self-isolate and quarantine.

I have made my own care arrangements to avoid further burdening the public health system, which faces so many pressures. Like many others that will test also positive, I have not experienced high fever or other symptoms associated with this new virus and have been working from home. I hope to be back at my desk very soon. I have a team of young, professional, knowledgeable and patriotic colleagues, whose dedication has been beyond the call of duty, who continue to work seven days a week, with no time of the day spared. We will continue to serve the President and people of Nigeria, as we have for the past five years.

I want to thank all our fantastic, talented and brave healthcare professionals, working across the country in such a difficult time; all the good Samaritans looking out for the most vulnerable in our communities; the key workers that will keep our country going through this; friends and family and often strangers, who have sent me such warm wishes and displayed such a generosity of spirit.

We should be calm, measured and diligent – be meticulous in your hygiene, especially with cleaning hands, if possible stay at home or keep your distance. Listen to good advice from the proper authorities: pay no heed to quack cures or fake news from social media. President Buhari will do whatever it takes to protect the health and safety of our people and get the country back on its feet as soon as possible.

Like the whole world, we are dealing with a new disease. Our experts are learning more all the time about coronavirus, what it does and how we can combat it. What we do know is that while some may become very sick, many others who contract the virus will not, and may have no symptoms at all. This is a disease that recognises no difference between north and south, men or women, rich or poor. We are all in this together.

Sincerely

Abba Kyari
Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari