Coronavirus: Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, dies as cases hit 493 Published April 18, 2020
The Chief of Staff to the President , Mallam Abba Kyari , is dead.
He died on Friday at age 81 .
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity , Mr Garba Shehu , said the deceased died of COVID- 19 .
Announcing Kyari ’ s death via his verified Twitter handle , @ GarShehu , Shehu wrote , “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 . ”
Shehu said funeral arrangements for the deceased would be announced soon .
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity , Mr Femi Adesina , also wrote via his verified
Twitter handle @ FemAdesina , “ Chief of Staff to the President , Mallam Abba Kyari, passes on . May God rest his soul. Amen. Funeral arrangements to be announced soon . ”
Kyari had tested positive for the coronavirus in March after a trip to Germany and Egypt.
Doctors attending to the late Chief of Staff had obtained his medical records from Wellington Hospital , St John ’ s Wood , London , which showed that he ( Kyari) had some other ailments that could hamper his rate of recovery from COVID- 19 .
The Wellington Hospital , which is located in North London , is the largest independent hospital in the United Kingdom .
Kyari, in a letter on March 29 , had said he was conveyed to Lagos on an air ambulance to do additional tests and observation , adding that he took the decision based on medical advice as a precautionary measure .
He further stated that he made his personal care arrangements to avoid further burdening the public health system , which faces so much pressure .
However , the Minister of Health , Dr Osagie Ehanire , refused to disclose where Kyari was receiving treatment .
The Commissioner for Health in Lagos State , Prof . Akin Abayomi , later said he did not know Kyari’ s location thereby sparking reports that the President ’ s aide was not in any isolation centre .
Responding to a question during a recent Presidential task force briefing in Abuja , the health minister said Kyari’ s location was not important, adding that the President ’ s chief of staff had a right to privacy .
READ ALSO: I don ’ t believe heaven , hell exist — Berkhout, 90 - year - old Dutchman who has spent 54 years in Nigeria
Reacting to the news, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party , Prince Uche Secondus , described the death as shocking .
He said he had prayed for the recovery of the late chief of staff , adding that he was shocked to hear about his death .
He said , “This is shocking . I ’ m sad to hear this bad news. Why now ? I wish to console with the President , members of his cabinet , the family members of Kyari and all his associates .
“ The death is a reminder to all of us that whatever we are today , it is by the grace of God . He is the one that owns us and can call us at home at any time. Once more, I pray for the repose of the soul of the distinguished Nigerian . ”
He died on Friday at age 81 .
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity , Mr Garba Shehu , said the deceased died of COVID- 19 .
Announcing Kyari ’ s death via his verified Twitter handle , @ GarShehu , Shehu wrote , “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 . ”
Shehu said funeral arrangements for the deceased would be announced soon .
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity , Mr Femi Adesina , also wrote via his verified
Twitter handle @ FemAdesina , “ Chief of Staff to the President , Mallam Abba Kyari, passes on . May God rest his soul. Amen. Funeral arrangements to be announced soon . ”
Kyari had tested positive for the coronavirus in March after a trip to Germany and Egypt.
Doctors attending to the late Chief of Staff had obtained his medical records from Wellington Hospital , St John ’ s Wood , London , which showed that he ( Kyari) had some other ailments that could hamper his rate of recovery from COVID- 19 .
The Wellington Hospital , which is located in North London , is the largest independent hospital in the United Kingdom .
Kyari, in a letter on March 29 , had said he was conveyed to Lagos on an air ambulance to do additional tests and observation , adding that he took the decision based on medical advice as a precautionary measure .
He further stated that he made his personal care arrangements to avoid further burdening the public health system , which faces so much pressure .
However , the Minister of Health , Dr Osagie Ehanire , refused to disclose where Kyari was receiving treatment .
The Commissioner for Health in Lagos State , Prof . Akin Abayomi , later said he did not know Kyari’ s location thereby sparking reports that the President ’ s aide was not in any isolation centre .
Responding to a question during a recent Presidential task force briefing in Abuja , the health minister said Kyari’ s location was not important, adding that the President ’ s chief of staff had a right to privacy .
READ ALSO: I don ’ t believe heaven , hell exist — Berkhout, 90 - year - old Dutchman who has spent 54 years in Nigeria
Reacting to the news, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party , Prince Uche Secondus , described the death as shocking .
He said he had prayed for the recovery of the late chief of staff , adding that he was shocked to hear about his death .
He said , “This is shocking . I ’ m sad to hear this bad news. Why now ? I wish to console with the President , members of his cabinet , the family members of Kyari and all his associates .
“ The death is a reminder to all of us that whatever we are today , it is by the grace of God . He is the one that owns us and can call us at home at any time. Once more, I pray for the repose of the soul of the distinguished Nigerian . ”
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