The demise of Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President of the federal republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari has once again opened another round of struggle in the administration. Kyari, often referred to as “the red cap chief” died in a private hospital in Lagos after being declared COVID-19 positive. With underlying illnesses, he could not win the battle against coronavirus. During the about five years he held sway, he fought many battles with some other aides and appointees of his principal. Most of the battles were fought in cold blood.
During the about five years he held sway, he fought many battles with some other aides and appointees of his principal. Most of the battles were fought in cold blood.
With his exit, President Buhari is faced with another “crisis” of selecting his new Chief of Staff. Anyone close to the President will know that the situation at hand presents one of those scenarios the President had tried to avoid because of the political backlash that is associated with it.
The President has been accused of being clannish and even described by some of his critics as a religious bigot who only surround himself more with people of his ethnic extraction and Islamic faith.
The position of the Chief of Staff goes beyond political considerations because the person to occupy the position that was made very popular and powerful by the late Mallam Kyari must not only be conversant with the direction of the government, the person must also be a known and intimate person to his boss.
Some critics have said that there is going to be internal crisis between the first family under the control of the First Lady, Dr. Aisha Buhari and the alleged cabal within the Presidency in the choice of who becomes the Chief of Staff.
While the members of the kitchen cabinet of the President described as the cabal would want to have firm control in the choice of Malam Kyari’s successor, the First Lady would not want a repetition of what happened before when she bitterly complained that her husband’s administration had been hijacked by a cabal.
Despite the view and interests of anybody, President Buhari is the person that has the final say in this matter. He might decide to retain his pattern of selecting his personal aides from his clan, tribe or religion.
