By, Dr. Charles Omole

When it comes to political leadership, we need to learn a powerful thesis as Africans. In the West, most players fight to be in the Inner Circle of the Leaders. Either as Chief of Staff, Advisers or Ministers.

They know that this positions give them influence on the leader without the exposure and pain of political campaign. More importantly; they also know that once elected, a Leader becomes a hostage to his/her immediate team. They form the burble that shapes Leadership perception and influence. Some of d most influential people in Western politics are not elected, but appointed. In d UK right now, d most influential guy is not elected; but more surprisingly, he is also NOT a member of the ruling party either; yet the PM eats from his plate, literally.

But in Nigeria and most of Africa; folks always think being elected as the political leader is the most important role. Hence the do or die approach to political office elections. But the Lesson Abba Kyari is teaching Nigerians is similar to the Western scenario explained before.

He is d most powerful person in the Presidency of Nigeria today. More powerful than d VP. And PMB trusts him absolutely. This was not always the case. After d 2011 elections; Kyari challenged a friend of mine who supported PMB why he was supporting a “chronic loser like Buhari”.

So he has not been a close associate of PMB for long. But a man that PMB trusts more than his own wife is Daura. Daura and Kyari were in the same Bank. Daura was Chairman and Kyari was MD. So it was Daura that introduced Kyari to PMB as someone he could trust and Mr President simply projected the trust he has for Daura unto Kyari & appointed him as Chief of Staff (CoS). Kyari saw this as an opportunity of a lifetime. The CoS has therefore proven he is trustworthy to PMB, most especially during the weeks of ill health in the first term.

READ: https://thebelltimesng.com/2019/09/10/abba-kyari-lesson-in-political-leadership-in-nigeria/

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