Late Abba Kyari
By TOM CHIAHEMEN, Abuja –
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, late Mallam Abba Kyari, was buried at the Gudu cemetery in Abuja this morning according to Muslim rites.
The remains of Mallam Kyari, had arrived Airport Abuja from Lagos early in the morning while funeral prayers were held the Defence House in Maitama District, Abuja which served as his residence, preparatory to his final interment s according to Islamic injunctions.
The body of Kyari, who died of complications from COVID-19, was brought down from an ambulance and lowered into his grave at exactly 11:30am.
Scores of top government functionaries, including the Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Senators, ministers, former governors and presidential aides, witnessed the burial rites.
Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Garba Shehu, said in a statement shortly after the burial that as advised by the protocols put in place by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health on social distancing, the burial of Kyari “marks the end of all ceremonies and there will be no condolence visits to family and the Presidency.”
He advised well-wishers and all other Nigerians to, instead, pray for the repose of the soul of the late Chief of Staff.
“A condolence register will be opened at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) from Sunday for those who are able to use the window permitted for movement by the FCT administration,” Shehu said.
The official announcement of Kyari’s death was contained in a statement by Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity.
Adesina stated that Kyari died on Friday, and that funeral arrangements would be announced shortly.
“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,” Adesina announced.
Kyari was one of the closest advisers to President Buhari. He died after contracting the novel coronavirus.
A former chief executive officer of United Bank for Africa Plc, Kyari was named chief of staff in August 2015 by president Buhari. His appointment was renewed after Buhari won a second term in office.
Behind the scenes, he was regarded as one of the powerful politicians in Buhari’s cabinet.
Kyari was reported to had tested positive for coronavirus after returning from a trip to Germany.
A high profile personality, Kyari hailed from the northeastern state of Borno. He held degrees from the University of Cambridge and University of Warwick in law and sociology, and had worked at Unilever Nigeria Plc, Exxon Mobil, among other companies.