Abba Kyari’s Ex-Colleagues Pay Tribute To Late Chief Of Staff, Say He Was An Innovative, Effective Leader

Late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, has been described as a one who loved Nigeria with passion and totally committed to making it a better place.

Kyari died weeks ago, following complications from Coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19.

In a condolence message to Buhari on Monday by colleagues of Kyari when he was Executive Director and later Managing Director of United Bank for Africa(UBA), namely Mahmood Isa Dutse, Mairo Bashir, Aliyu Dikko, Olufemi Lijadu, Louis Edozien, Mansur Muhtar and Kabir Ahmed, they said the deceased served the country loyally and contributed immensely to steadying the “ship of the state”.

According to them, it was necessary to write the condolence to Mr. President because of the inaccurate attacks on Kyari, which they behaved were unfair and contrary to his honesty, integrity and commitment to Nigeria.

“It is heart warming that many people who knew him well, published counter narratives, which have portrayed a more accurate picture of the gentleman, who headed a leading Nigerian bank and forged relationships with people from every part of Nigeria,” the condolence reads briefly.

“Throughout the time we have known and worked with Mallam Kyari, he proved to be humble, upright, kind hearted and very a engaging personality, highly cerebral,  knowledgeable and innovative. He was an effective leader and team player. He had zero tolerance for injustice, incompetence, laziness, tardiness and corruption. He was always a step ahead of others and possessed a laser-like brilliance and sense of propriety manifested in his interactions with this colleagues and all who came across him.

“He left his indelible mark at the United Bank for Africa where he started off as Executive Director management services in 1995, before his elevation to the position of Managing Director which he held for several years. During his tenure he transformed the bank with a closely-knit, sustained family where staff focused on their official responsibilities, because under Malam Kyari’s leadership, everybody felt a personal commitment to the success of the bank.”