Mamman Daura’s tribute to Abba Kyari

I do not recollect knowing or meeting Malam Abba Kyari in person, and indeed I do not recollect meeting him until he became the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. However, when I was discussing about his death with Malam Shehu Abui, former Editor-in-Chief of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), and a colleague at the […]

I do not recollect knowing or meeting Malam Abba Kyari in person, and indeed I do not recollect meeting him until he became the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, when I was discussing about his death with Malam Shehu Abui, former Editor-in-Chief of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), and a colleague at the New Nigerian, he informed me that both Abba Kyari and himself joined the New Nigerian at the same time and were attached to my desk by the Editor, Malam Mamman Daura. He reminded me that it was only Abba Kyari and myself that had means of transportation, scooter motorcycles in the editorial department apart from the editor who had a Peugeot 404 saloon car.

When I wrote my piece about Mamman Daura, quite a number of people confronted me to ask why Mamman Daura whom I said was incorruptible would bring into the Presidency a man who was alleged to be corrupt?

My simple reply to them was that if Abba Kyari had truly worked with Mamma Daura at the New Nigerian, their perception about him must be wrong. Malam Mamman Daura had a way of influencing his staff and most of them strived  to be like him by adopting to his style of writing and his attitude to materialism and other common vices. For instance, Malam Turi Muhammadu, a knowledgeable journalist worked closely with Malam Mamman Daura, succeeded him as the managing director of New Nigerian Newspapers and went on to hold many other higher positions. Yet, I am aware that he did not die a rich man.

There are many others. Mr. Minso Gadzama left the New Nigerian and became a chief executive officer of a bank. Clement Isaiah, Malam Ibrahim Suleman, Mr. Dan Agbese, Malam Wada Maida, Mr. Clement Ende, Malam Bukar Zarma, Malam Shehu Abui, Mr. A.B. Ahmed and my classmate and friend Late Yakubu Abdulazeez all left New Nigerian to hold other higher positions yet left without any material wealth.

This writer left the New Nigerian and later became Director of Daily Times, National Publicity Secretary of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN), and was for four years a director of Julius Berger, yet he is eking a living on his farm in Pika, Mbatiav in Gboko LG of Benue State today.

Reading through Malam Mamman Daura’s tribute on late Malam Abba Kyari, it is clear that imbibing the  tradition of the New Nigerian newspaper, Abba was so publicity shy that little was known about him while he was Chief of Staff as he did not grant press interviews or even sought to clarify issues when he was erroneously accused by many of alleged wrong doings. Two people have thrown a lot of light on the life of Abba Kyari; they both have known Malam Abba for over 40 years. The first is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama and now Malam Mamman Daura. Mr Onyeama said that Abba Kyari was his best man when he married his wife in an Anglican Church.

It is interesting that a Muslim from far away Bama in Borno State would leave all government  secondary schools in then Northern Nigeria to attend St. Paul’s Anglican Secondary School in Wusasa, Zaria.

When he proceeded to study in the UK, he left scores of his kinsmen who were also studying there to make a lifelong friendship with an Igbo man.

The lesson of the death of Abba Kyari has taught us that, people in high positions must not shy away from publicity. They must make themselves known so that society will judge them correctly. If society had known half of what we now know about Malam Abba Kyari, he would no doubt have faced less criticism.

It is ironic that despite Malam Abba Kyari’s monumental achievements and contributions for a better Nigeria, he succumbed to COVID-19, a disease that cuts off air that is given freely by the creator of mankind and chokes its victim to death. Nigerians should therefore take this sickness seriously.

 

Mr. Simon Shango sent in this piece from his farm in Pika in Gboko local government area of Benue State.