Abba Kyari and Geoffrey Onyeama
Kyari was Onyeama’s best man at an Anglican wedding !
Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister has revealed his closeness to Abba Kyari, former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.
He made some stunning revelations about the person of Late Kyari in an interview with Channels Television on Saturday.
According to him, Abba Kyari whom he has known since 1977 was a very simple and humble person, smart, extremely well read, friendly, loyal and generous. They hit it off within a week of meeting those many years back.
Kyari and Onyeama met at the Warwick University, played hard, worked hard, partied together, had fun at discotheques. They kept in touch wherever they were in the world. Kyari visited him when he was in Switzerland and whenever they were in the same country they always found time to be together.
He added that the CoS was a man of unimpeachable integrity. It therefore broke his heart to hear of the corruption allegations against him because he was somebody who had no interest in material things.
He cared deeply about Nigeria, a global citizen and Pan-Nigerian who made friends with anyone irrespective of ethnic or religious leanings.
Geoffrey Onyema hit is off with Kyari immediately they met as they shared a lot of interests especially about what they could both do to transform Nigeria.
He added that Abba Kyari worked 24/7 to ensure the success of Mr President. His unrelenting sacrifice to state duties took a toll on his health unti he paid the ultimate price. He did not seek public adulation but rather worked tirelessly for the president and Nigeria from behind the scenes.
Onyeama believes that eventually, Nigerians will begin to feel the impact Kyari made to the present administration.
Real personal relationship, how Kyari was Onyeama’s Best man:
According to the Minister, when he got married, it was quite an interesting experience for the Vicar.
“Myself being a Roman Catholic Igbo, marrying a Yoruba Anglican in Owo Ondo State. My best man in the church was a Muslim, Shua Arab, Kanuri from the North.
“The officiating Vicar had never seen anything like that in his life.
“When we had our 1st son in Geneva a couple of years later, he was the best man at a Catholic Baptism ceremony. He (Abbaa Kyari) was somebody for whom ethnic and religious divide meant absolutely nothing
“He had a serious-looking face but he had a wonderful sense of humour great wit and full of fun. He had an interesting raconteur, great stories to tell.
“Our wives are very close. His wife Kulu and my wife Sunlola are very very close and his children … we look at ourselves as one family.
“He was my best man and for me, he will always be the best man.
According Geoffrey Onyeama, Abba Kyari told him that he had never consciously sought any position in his life. All the positions he has held, he was offered.
Kyari told him that he never took any gratification. Even the MTN bribery scandal, he showed the minister evidence to the effect that he was not even part of the committee that investigated MTN and so knew nothing about the accusations.
Gifts sent to Kyari were tucked away in a strong box in his office where he put any unsolicited gifts because he did not want anything from anybody. He made sure to update the President on anything he received.
Onyeama said that Kyari was bright and erudite and his sincerity may have contributed to his career successes.
Tributes Continue to Pour in for Abba Kyari, Social Distancing not Observed at Burial
1 thought on “Kyari Was Onyeama’s Best Man at An Anglican Wedding”
Comments are closed.