Mallam Abba
Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Bihari on Friday evening
succumbed to the cold hands of death by COVID 19, 25 days after he tested
positive to the dreaded virus.
Kyari’s
underlying medical conditions was believed to have complicated his battle with disease.
And thus caused his death.
He showed
the symptoms of the disease after he returned from a trip to Germany last
month.
His positive
testing almost shut down the business of government.
Both the
Federal Executive Council and National Council of State meetings were postponed
indefinitely.
It also led
to a flurry of tests by people who had been in contact with him.
Among these
were President Buhari, VP Yemi Osinbajo and secretary to government, Boss
Mustahpa.
Governors also
took the COVID-19 test.
Kyari later
came out in the open to declare he had COVID-19. He was then hospitalised in a
private hospital in Lagos. The presidency did not indicate where he was
treated.
But some
reports said he was hospitalised at First Cardiology Consultant (FCC), a
private health facility located at Thompson Avenue in Ikoyi.
Abba Kyari
is survived by four children,
He was a Kanuri
from Borno, a lawyer and banker 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 worked
for the law firm Fani-Kayode and Sowemimo after law school.
From 1988 t0
1990, he was the Editor with the New Africa Holdings Limited Kaduna.
In 1990 to
1995, Kyari was the secretary to the board of African International Bank
Limited, a subsidiary of Bank of Credit and Commerce International.
He was also an
executive director in charge of management sevices at the United Bank for
Africa.
Later, he
was appointed the chief executive officer of the bank.
In 2002, he
was appointed a director of Unilever Nigeria. He also later served on the board
of ExxonMobil Nigeria.
Below is the
official statement released by President Buhari’s media aide, Femi Adesina,
announcing Mallam Kyari’s transition.
CHIEF OF STAFF
TO PRESIDENT, ABBA KYARI, PASSES ON
The
Presidency regrets to announce the passage of the Chief of Staff to the
President, Mallam Abba Kyari.
The deceased
had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment.
But he died on Friday, April 17, 2020.
May God
accept his soul.
Funeral
arrangements will be announced shortly.
Femi Adesina
Special
Adviser to the President
(Media and
Publicity)
April 18,
2020
