Farewell, My Friend and Authentic Comrade

By Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

There are two most important dates in a man’s life. Other than the day he was born, according to Mark Twain, the other day is the day he discovers why he was born.

Doubtless, Mallam Abba Kyari realised his own purpose early enough: a conscientious pursuit of common good without seeking personal glory.

My first encounter with him was not in the corridors of power in Abuja, but in a very humble environment back in 1973.

In the last five years of the Buhari presidency, Mallam Kyari surely meant different things to different folks as the Chief of Staff.
Perhaps the popular perception is that he was the embodiment of loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari and an abiding patriotism to Nigeria.

But to confine his profile to his last official address is to miss the full height of the essential Abba Kyari and lose the broader picture of a life devoted entirely to fighting for the under-privileged, even though quietly.
Indeed, those who knew him would never begrudge him; those who resented him had obviously never the chance of truly knowing him.

I say this with the authority of one whose intimate association with him dates back to the days of Zamfara Textile in Kaduna.
I will illustrate with a few anecdotes.
Way back in 1973, we had found ourselves in opposing sides of the isle at Zamfara Textile in Kaduna: I was the leader of the workers union while he represented the management as Admin Officer.

But in the many brushes the union had with the management, Abba Kyari showed a true character as a conscientious man, a true Nigerian patriot, by never failing to side with workers on the core issues of human dignity and fairness. Following our protest, he was the lone voice at the management meeting who spoke against the operation of two classes of canteen by the company. He was not afraid to state that having a uniform canteen for both management staff and junior workers was the only way to convince the junior workers that their meal was not inferior.

Similarly, even though he was supposed to be on the side of the “oppressor”, Abba Kyari persuaded the management to incur extra costs by issuing all factory workers two pairs of personal protective uniform and safety boots.

The amazing thing was that, in pushing our case with management every time, Abba Kyari never sought to be seen or worshipped as a “hero”.
For him, advocating for social justice was not a favor, but a duty.

Again, when nobody believed in the chances of then General Buhari ever upstaging the behemoth PDP, Abba Kyari’s faith was unshaken.
I recall he was the one that first approached me in 2002 as the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress to sell Buhari’s candidacy to the labour movement. He invested his personal resources, energy and wide contacts in the business world in the project.

To say he shared President Buhari’s passion for a Nigeria that works for the vast majority as against the interest of a buccaneering elite is an understatement. It is partly the reason that Abba Kyari was never the darling of those used to gaming the system and their collaborators in western capitals.

That natural instinct to fight for the downtrodden was very much on display in 2016 when the Buhari administration was barely a year in office and the nation found herself in economic recession inflicted by the mismanagement of the economy by the previous administration.
I was still Edo Governor then. I recall that Abba Kyari, just like President Buhari, was quite stubborn in opposing the devaluation of naira. Just as they were averse to the removal of petrol subsidy. In several official meetings we had then in Abuja, you could always see the sadness on their faces when the matter came up and when the decision became inevitable. They were unhappy that such policies would hurt the vulnerable and erode the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.

Abba Kyari was not only loyal to President Buhari, he was also faithful to friends through thick and thin. His sense of humour was phenomenal. I recall that whenever we met and I complained that the stress of running the office of National Chairman was such that I had little time to socialize with old friends like him, he would tease by saying, “If a young man like you is complaining of stress as ordinary National Chairman of a party, I wonder what you expect someone like President Buhari who is running the entire country at his age and with all he has been through since the 60s and is still making sacrifices today, to say.”

In summary, there is no doubt that President Buhari has lost a dependable lieutenant and a close ideological disciple. Words cannot express our grief at this hour. But compatriots, we are comforted that Abba Kyari was a man of stellar character, a workhorse who toiled day and night to advance President Buhari’s vision, a luminous torchbearer for the progressives’ community and a committed advocate of the downtrodden who fought for them quietly without seeking personal glory.

The verdict of history will surely be kinder to him than the one borne out of whatever might be the reading or misunderstanding of his contemporary role in some quarters.

May Allah grant him peaceful repose and comfort his family and Mr. President over this great loss.

Farewell, my authentic comrade.

Signed:

Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, mni, CON
Chairman, All Progressives Party.

The monkey has finally spoken. Na today he hear say him die.

When you don't see oshiomole in the news for one or two weeks just know that he is doing something underground

Hmmm

Where is Adams Oshiomole ?

Hmmmmm...

RIP to Abba kyari...

All these una long famzing epistle unto wetin na?

RIP Abba Kyari. I am still confused at why people are rejoicing over his death. We know the people that he is blocking from wielding powers and succeeding Buhari in 2023. These are people that are actually rejoicing and trying to change the narrative that we are rejoicing. I hope the family and the families of other Nigerians that have died of Coronavirus find the fortitude to bear their losses.

Adams Don relegated by covid-419 Governor

Okay

God bless you sir. Who else noticed that all through out his time in the presidency, Abba Kyari never granted any interviews? He never talked to the press for once. He didn’t bother denying all the lies against him. It’s obvious this man had a good heart and was hated for nothing by people who knew nothing about him.

Now before you quote, sit down and think about it, ask yourself, Apart from the stories I read on social media, what really did Abba Kyari do to me personally?

Meanwhile...

Be doing stupîd farewell there .


There's no worthy hospital in the whole of Abuja, he had to be brought to Lagos for treatment


You see how useless you people are?


You won't use your salary or personal money for any project, yet you can not manage the abundant resources we have well. Greed, wickedness, selfishness and carelessness has consumed all of you.

Senile Bastąrds!

Ok

Why are we this hypocritical in nature?

Someone who when he was alive stocked up the resources meant for we all, for his personal and family use. He neglected us all as if we are nobody, he even had to host his birthday party in abroad so that those who que under the sun/rain to vote them won't benefit in whatsoever way.

Then he dies and you want me, as hungry as I am, to start crying and mourning and drain off the little blood in me with sadness. How many of them polithiefcians mourn the death of commoner? So if femi adishina or Lai Mohammed should die today, you would expect me to mourn too?

Keep fooling yourself

Let them mourn the death, the figure we have been seen since how many of them are celebrated.

Mallam Abba Kyari was a good man!

He was misconstrued, misquoted, misjudged and crucified for no fault of his!

Only Posterity will remember him for good!

He was an unsung HERO and an Epitome of unalloyed Loyalty!

Rest in peace Mallam!
You did your best possible for your fatherland!
We will NEVER forget!

He was a good man.
He lived a good man.

RIP BABA ABBA.

He died in active service for our darling nation. [/b]
"May Almighty Allah dwell him in Jannatul Firdaus.”

To use one of us @[/b] (Hajia Fathia) arabic language we will say.....

[b]Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
(Arabic: إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ‎.
'Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Allah we shall return')

Sluacoast:
Your comments are always on point MANNA

Thanks sir.
We only make sense to sensible, honest and good people,
but to some pessimistic souls and enemies of the country, who are always bitter in misery,
we never make sense!
Meanwhile, Let us all Keep safe.



More on Baba Abba below......
https://www.nairaland.com/5804693/abba-kyari-man-told-us

can we start discussing productive matters?
the man is gone.


How much is one ventilator?
Why can't every general hospital have at least 2?
When will the constitution on power generation be amended and states be allowed to generate power without sending to national grid.

When will every state be made to generate funds to fund their budgets. our "oyel" will soon be useless.
What do we need to do to pay off our debts to nations and start lending to others too?

So many things to do and all they do is releasing press condolences.

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thirst for power and dominance led him to the grave.

buhari lifelessness left a vacuum of leadership and Abba filled that vacuum with his greed

This one Oshiomole has been mute for some weeks now hope he is not battling Covid_19... there is no gra gra in grave o, life na jeje

To be frank with u Nigerians are not happy at all. This whole scam is gradually coming to an end...because sooner than later, the same people they steal from and oppress will revolt against the system...

After 3 days... These guys should allow Abba Kyari's soul to rest in peace.

I don tire for all this kyari stuff...y can't we channel it to our leaders of tomorrow being killed by security operatives

Am beginning to change my misconception about Abba kyari...Not cos of what oshiomole said(e too dey lie),but cos none of those saying bad things about him really knows him...
We're only judging him from hearsays

Oshiomhole day just break?

/
Nice try!

Put a lipstick on a pig; it is still a pig.

Everything evil said about Abba was said when he was alive. He heard it. Buhari heard it. Aso Rock hustlers also heard it. It even came from the First Lady as well. It is pointless trying to rewrite history.

/

Okay.

Next, please...