Life is in stages even though all circles of human existence must be completed according to the overwhelming power of God before the exit of every man because the world is mysteriously a stage. The completion of every life cycle is not measured as fulfillment of destiny due to divergence of personal persuit in the journey of life but in Africa, relatively Nigeria the dead are often celebrated in contrast to whichever way they have lived or mingled while living amongst mortals. In the case of Abba Kyari, reverse is the case; he was blamed for many inefficiencies in life and in death but truth is scared.
Late Abba Kyari transited to the great beyond on 17 April 2020 after battling a deteriorating health condition in the aftermath of contacting the ravaging Corona Virus. Until his demise, he was the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari and was blamed in many quarters as it concerns any deficiency in leadership style of his master (PMB) the incumbent Government. For critics, the late Kyari was Nigeria’s biggest problem but his death vindicated these assumptions instigated by hatred, unbalanced idealisms and cabalistic attacks. In fairness to Kyari’s critics, he was not a Saint but apportioning all misgivings to a single man is the greatest undoing to a Public Servant.
It is worrisome and pitifully annoying the way and manner many critics of President Muhammadu Buhari never hesitated dragging Abba Kyari to the mud for reasons best known to them even though it is obviously for selfish purpose(s). Many months after his demise, the truth behind all interplays that unfolded during his time in office is better understood and his critics are not benevolent to reality to confess and seek forgiveness rather, in a usual Nigerian penchant of trading blames, they have shifted their ugly focus to his successor and other pronounced or perceived ‘game changers’ who may not be guilty in similar context.
Kyari suffered kickbacks of societal failure as it concerns poor orientations and eroded mindsets. Many criticisms targeted at his person was senseless and cheaply projected by criminally minded weaklings cum gullible citizens who lacked the basic learnings of common sense by permitting mischief makers to play on their collective and myopic intelligence. Nigeria is a cosmopolitan state and it can NEVER deviate to become a ‘one man business’ as peddlers of disunity and crooking agenda made it look like. To this end, Kyari cannot be exonerated in totality but he was not the daylight rare devil championing a divisive course in Africa’s most populous nation.
In reality, the success of any Government in Power (across the globe) are collective efforts of many state actors who may never be seen or heard in public domain but the idiosyncrasies of these merchants of power dynamics keep reflecting in daily decisions and discretion of such administration. For Kyari, let it be said that he utilized opportunities and stepped on the big toe of other conflicting opportunists who were either taken unaware or pushed into the oblivious atmosphere of disbeliefs. Interestingly, it is one factor to be in power but a dual factor knowing how to judiciously enforce power in favour of the governed and acolytes. However, the bottom line of all factors instigating structural adjustment and discontentment are gross defects of personal interest and the late Kyari was unfairly assessed on this margin.
Abba Kyari was criticized in many circles, tongue lashed and bashed by Nigerians but he is still a Hero in the lens of his beneficiaries and benefactors. In other words, Kyari was criticized or still blamed by many Nigerians who were not opportune to present Greek gifts, get a contract or better still enjoy the “flexible” managerial skills of the statesman and this is not a new twist but a corrupt option christened the Nigerian factor. It is only on this part of the globe that citizens observe table manners when partaking in the feast of sharing the national cake but are quick to grumble each time they are sitting far away from the banquet and are dissatisfied because of crumbs. Abba Kyari is not NIGERIA’S problem and his death was a major eye-opener that is supposed to guide Nigerians to repent from egocentric endeavors and senseless trade of blame game.
In the aftermath of Kyari’s existence, banditry gained momentum in Northern Nigeria even when the country is still battling insurgency. Recall that Kyari was blamed by critics for not buying enough arms and ammunition to counter insurgency in the North East. It is laughable how people think and hire other poorly oriented bandwagons to label a fellow human being as traitor even though they are not better off if granted the opportunity to serve. In the past days, kidnappings of school girls and travellers is a fast rising business option in Northern Nigeria as espoused from the South perhaps because these fraudulent merchants are cashing out at ease. It is worthy of note, that the recent standpoint of President Muhammadu Buhari not accepting to give amnesty to bandits is a welcome development. Nigeria should not dwindle to a scenario where criminals are romanced thereby creating more opportunities for other elements to emerge in anticipation of favourable engagements. God forbid!
In fairness to the life and times of Abba Kyari while working closely with Mr President, his critics should wield the scare courage to ask for forgiveness. Kyari was an immortal who contributed his quota and left the scene to tread a path every living soul must cross and his death relieved him of many blames of which he may not be guilty as charged. Now that Nigerians are facing current realities, it takes courage to ask Kyari for forgiveness because so many Public Servants are experiencing similar fate; these assumptions and senseless attack is not a solution to lingering issues affecting the communal sanity of Nigeria and Nigerians.
– Ajogwu Jerry Ochada, a public commentator mailed this piece via greatlight87@gmail.com
