Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has described the late Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, as a loyal aide, who stepped on toes in the interest of his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, and Nigeria as a whole.
The Governor, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics from Lokoja the Kogi State capital, noted that Kyari had left a vacuum that would be difficult to fill, both within the ruling All Progressives Congress and Nigeria in general.
He said, “We look at him as a patriot, a great diplomat but he was never an ambassador; a great politician, but he never sought for any elective position; a great technocrat and a great lawyer.
“Somebody who was very passionate about this country. He has done his own part, he has made his own contribution and left a very big shoe. I hope and pray that Mr. President will get somebody who can fill this vacuum. We wish him an eternal rest.”
When asked if Kyari was actually part of a cabal in the Presidency, considering how influential he was in the cabinet, Bello said, “Like you know and those of us in authority, loyalty is number one. Secondly, your ability and character to discharge the duties and responsibilities discharged on you is one other thing. Mallam Abba Kyari was very loyal to Mr President, very diligent, a professional par excellence and he is very passionate about the progress and development of Nigeria, not only to our party the APC but Nigeria in general.
“So if such a person is carrying out his duties and responsibilities, there is no way you will not step on toes one way or the other to ensure that the job is done. So if he stepped on toes in one way or the other, it is just to ensure that he serves Mr. President diligently, that he did very well.
“He took a lot of bullets and took a lot of responsibility for that. So there is no regret and there is no apology to that effect. In due course, we are going to miss this great Nigerian who sacrificed it all to ensure that we have the much modest achievement that we have today. So if you say cabal, in one way or the other, yes.
“You will have one or two persons that are loyal to you who are ready to dare the devil and ensure that the job is done. So if you call it a cabal, it depends on the angle you are looking at it from.”
