Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on the death of his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.
The former president who is known to keep the age-old tradition of handwriting letters and posting them to the consignees did not miss a chance to do the same once again.
As the presidency mourns its main powerhouse and the president’s right hand and most loyal aid, many have posted online tributes via social media handles to both the presidency, the family of late Kyari as well as the entire country.
Those who sent messages include political opponents and APC party faithfuls alike.
On his part, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo writes Buhari on Kyari’s death to condole with him and Kyari’s family. He admonished Nigerians to join hands and combat the “dreadful killer disease, Covid-19.”
Full text of Obasanjo’s letter:
“I received the news of the demise of Alhaji Abba Kyari, your Chief of Staff, over Friday night, with great sadness, as he lost a battle against the dreadful killer disease, Covid-19.
“Abba Kyari’s death must be painful to you and his family and friends, but you can all take solace in the fact that he died in harness, in the service of his country.
“His death must be a solemn reminder to all of us that covid-19 requires all hands on deck soberly, cooperatively, humanly, humanely, justly, equitably, fairly, consolidatedly and comprehensively to be able to fight it successfully and to get all Nigerians back to good health and a healthy economy.
“God will give you and Abba Kyari’s family an friends the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“May Allah receive his soul”
But for the very sober moment that the presidency is forced into, some lines of Chief Obasanjo’s letter would remind the older generation (from about age 50 upwards) of the kind of letters they wrote between themselves…
- “…he died in harness..”
- “all hands on deck soberly, cooperatively, humanly, humanely, justly, equitably, fairly, consolidatedly and comprehensively.”
Notwithstanding, our thoughts truly are with the bereaved at this time. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Related:
Tributes Continue to Pour in for Abba Kyari, Social Distancing not Observed at Burial