How Nigerians are Reacting To Abba Kyari’s Death From COVID-19
The death of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari has dominated discourse on the internet since it was announced on Saturday.
Presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina announced Kyari’s death on Twitter in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Kyari, who is regarded as a controversial ally of the President and most powerful aide from 2015 till his death on Friday, died after about a month long battle with COVID-19 and has been buried at Gudu cemetery in Abuja on Saturday morning.
As expected when a public office holder dies, Kyari’s death has ignited mixed reactions among Nigerians on the internet. He was not the favourite of many Nigerians, we can say from the flood of reactions that have trailed his death, it is evident many loathe him and the roles he reportedly played in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The voice of the mob against his personality is overwhelming the opinion of the few who are speaking in his defence.
It appears the loathing is not just among ‘ordinary Nigerians’, Kano State Commissioner for Works, Muaz Magaji, is one of the political office holders who have come out openly to celebrate the death of Kyari.
Magaji shocked many when he took to Facebook to post several mocking comments about the late Chief of Staff. In one his many posts about Kyari, Mahaji wrote: “Win win… Nigeria is free and Abba Kyari has died in the plague… the death of a bachelor if faith is complete!”
Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmad has expressed disappointment in Magaji’s posts and asked the Kano State government to call him to order.
“It can be easily overlooked when some minor misguided people celebrate Malam Abba Kyari or anyone’s death, but when it’s a member of Kano Executive Council, a commissioner it would be hard to do the same, Engr Magaji’s action was irresponsible, for God’s sake he is a stakeholder,” Bashir tweeted.
“I am really disappointed and pained by the Kano State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Muazu Magaji’s remarks on Mallam Abba Kyari’s demise, the commissioner was seen publicly celebrating the death on his Facebook page. I hope @KanoStateNG and @GovUmarGanduje will call him to order.”
Shortly after Bashir called the attention of the Kano State Government to Magaji’s posts, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje announced that the commissioner has been fired with immediate effect.
The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, wife of he president Aisha Buhari and former Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu are some of those who have reacted to Kyari’s death.
Osinbajo, who many Nigerians alleged that Kyari was scheming to displace from office, tweeted: “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 in Jesus name, amen.”
Saraki, who had a running battle with the Presidency throughout his tenure as the President of the Senate from 2015 to 2019, was also among the early mourners of the former Chief of Staff.
He tweeted: “Innalillahi Wa Inna Ilaehi Rajiun. I commiserate with President @MBuhari and the Kyari family over the passing away of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari. May Allah forgive his sins and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. Amin
Aisha Buhari condoled with the wife of the deceased: “(From God Almighty we came and to him we shall return) I condole with Mrs. Kulu Abba Kyari and the entire family of Late Malam Abba Kyari over the death of their husband and father.”
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila tweeted: “My thoughts and prayers are with Mallam Abba Kyari’s family at this trying time. I also extend my condolences to @MBuhari for this loss.While we all grieve,let’s pray that God will grant the late CoS and other Nigerians that died as a result of this pandemic a good resting place.”
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described Kyari as a dedicated, committed and patriotic citizen in his Twitter statement condoling the President and the family of the deceased.
“I condole with H.E @MBuhari, the Kyari family and all Nigerians on the passing of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari. I thank him for his service to Nigeria and to the Presidency.
“Mallam Kyari was a dedicated, committed and patriotic citizen. He was a conscientious, cerebral and outstanding administrator whose life traversed the fields of law, journalism, banking and politics. His death is a great loss. May the Almighty grant his soul eternal rest.”
