COVID-19: Abba Kyari Buried Without Pomp And Ceremony

Matthew Ogune, Abuja

The Presidency on Saturday buried the late Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari at the Gudu Cemetery, Apo, Abuja, in a solemn funeral devoid of pump and ceremony.

The Presidency had announced the passage of Kyari in a Lagos hospital after he tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19.

A terse statement signed by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in the early hours of Saturday explained that the deceased who had been receiving treatment, died on Friday, April 17, 2020.

While praying God to accept his soul, the Presidency said that funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had earlier explained that the funeral which would be conducted in private, will be performed in strict observation of the protocol put in place for the burial of Coronavirus victims by the @NCDCgov and the Federal Ministry of Health. 

“Thereafter, there will be no such ceremonies as condolence visits. Well meaning friends, family members and the general public are encouraged to pray for the repose of Abba Kyari’s soul.

“May Allah grant the family and nation the fortitude to bear the loss, ” Mallam Shehu said in statement on Saturday.

While the statement by Adesina, announced the death, a twitter post by President Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, said Kyari was most misunderstood person.

Ahmad, on his Twitter handle said:

“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.

“A man of honour, will be remembered as someone who sacrificed his life for this country.

“It was Mallam Abba Kyari’s turn last night, my time and your time will definitely come no matter how long it may take. And none of us will be here and healthy in the next 150 years.”

Kyari died exactly 26 days after the news of him being severely ill and suspected of contracting the deadly virus following his trips to Germany and Egypt where the pandemic had claimed hundreds of lives.

Before his eventual demise, an eerie atmosphere and palpable fear had enveloped staffers in the Presidential Villa, Abuja following reports that the Chief of Staff to the president had tested positive for COVID-19.

Following the federal government’s directive for civil servants from grade level 1 – 12 to stay and work from home, there were fewer than normal personnel who reported for work.

Some of them could be seen in small groups discussing the prevailing pandemic, particularly, the news of Kyari’s test.

Others were heard openly expressing fears about the consequences of a positive test for Kyari given the nature of his interaction with politicians, other senior government officials and staff.

Returning from Germany, Kyari who was said to be asymptomatic, had attended meetings including the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the inauguration of the Presidential Task Force for the Control of Coronavirus, both of which were presided over by President Buhari.

But, the CoS was said to have tested positive, a development which necessitated a test by President Muhammadu Buhari whose result was said to have returned negative.

Specifically, the Chief of Staff had returned from Germany after meeting with officials of Siemens on the Nigerian electricity expansion programme.

He went into self-isolation, monitored by NCDC. His case was also reportedly not fatal yet and his staff were asked to self-isolate.

But there was no immediate plan to conduct any test on any of them until they showed symptoms of the dreaded COVID-19.

Kyari, who was last sighted in the Villa after Jum’aat prayer on the Friday prior to his departure to Lagos, was not seen again at the Presidential Villa before his death. His vehicles were also not sighted at his officially allocated positions at the car park in the Admin wing of the State House.

The late Chief of Staff to President, shortly before he was taken out of Abuja after he tested positive for coronavirus wrote a statement that he was on medical advise and was only being taken to Lagos for additional test and observation.

He also added that he was full of hope that after the test, he would be back at his duties inside the Presidential Villa.

This was his statement shortly before he was taken to Lagos:

“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.”

Born in 1938,  a Kanuri from Borno, not much is known about his early life. In 1980, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Warwick, and also received a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Cambridge.

In 1983, he was called to the Nigerian Bar after attending the Nigerian Law School.

In 1984, he obtained a master’s degree in law from the University of Cambridge.  He later attended the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland and participated in the Program for Management Development at the Harvard Business School, in 1992 and 1994, respectively.

Kyari was married to the sister-in-law of Ibrahim Tahir and had four children.

Kyari worked for the law firm 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.

In 1990, he served as a Commissioner for Forestry and Animal Resources in Borno State.

From 1990 to 1995, Kyari was the secretary to the board of African International Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

Kyari was an executive director in charge of management services at the United Bank for Africa, and was later appointed 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.

In August 2015, Kyari was appointed Chief of Staff to President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Kyari was an influential figure within the Buhari administration. During the administration’s first term, he worked mainly behind the scenes to implement the president’s agenda.

In 2019 with Buhari’s re-election for a second term, he ordered his cabinet to channel all requests through Kyari’s office. Further enhancing his influence within government circles, and being labelled as the de facto head of government.

In 2017, following a leaked memo, Kyari became embroiled in a public argument with the Head of Civil Service, who was later removed from office and arrested.

In 2020, following another leaked memo, Maj General Babagana Monguno (rtd) the National Security Adviser (NSA) accused Kyari of meddling in matters of national security.

Watchers of the presidency aver that by virtue of his office, Anba Kyari was the chief adviser to the president on sundry matters who demonstrated without fear, the boldness to tell President Buhari the truth.

While alive, amid the sneers and jeers, some critics showed distaste for his administrative disposition and perceived haughtiness, while some of his admirers insisted that Kyari comes across as possessing affable disposition.

But insiders say Kyari was not given to razzamatazz, but more inclined to keeping a low profile in carrying out his duties as ethically and professionally as possible, and without necessarily rocking the boat. This estimation contrasts and sounds quite contrary to the belief in some quarters that the he was inebriated with the vodka of power.