Chief of staff to President Buhari, Abba Kyari is Dead

The Presidency has announced the passage of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adeshina, said the deceased had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment, but died on Friday, April 17, 2020.

He said may God accept his soul as funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.

Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, passes on. May God rest his soul. Amen. Funeral arrangements to be announced soon.

— Femi Adesina (@FemAdesina) April 17, 2020

Another of the President’s spokespersons, Garba Shehu, also tweeted about the development.

The Presidency regrets to announce the passage of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.

— Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) April 17, 2020

The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday, April 17, 2020.

— Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) April 17, 2020

The late Chief to Staff to President Buhari had on March 23, tested positive to the novel Coronavirus.

On March 29, Kyari issued a statement on his decision to move to Lagos for “further test and observation.”

The statement was the first official confirmation of his COVID-19 status since he was reportedly confirmed positive six days earlier.

In his statement, he said; “I have made my own care arrangements to avoid further burdening the public health system, which faces so many pressures.

“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 protocols the government has announced to self-isolate and quarantine,” he said.

A Kanuri from Borno, Kyari was one of President’s Buhari’s closest allies.

Appointed Chief of Staff in August 2015, he became considered one of the most influential and powerful members of the Buhari administration.