The body of late President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, who died on Friday in Lagos from coronavirus complications, has been laid to rest at Gudu Cemetary, Abuja.
He was interred at 11:20 a.m. by men in personal protective equipment amidst tears.
Kyari died about four weeks after he tested positive for COVID-19, about 10 days after he returned from an official trip to Germany, one of the countries with high cases of the deadly virus.
Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Ahmad Lawan among have extolled the virtues of the late former Chief of Staff, describing his demise as unfortunate.
The Senate President, who said he received with shock and sadness the news of the passing on of Kyari, expressed his heartfelt condolence to his family over the great loss.
He also condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari over the loss of Kyari, who he described as a very competent, dedicated and loyal aide, who was a pillar in the President’s administration.
Lawan also extended his heartfelt sympathy to the Government and people of Borno State over the passage of a great son of the state.
Lawan said Mallam Kyari drew from his experiences as a lawyer who was called to the Bar in 1983, a banker and a journalist to become an administrator par excellence who did his best as the topmost aide of the President.
The Senate President said Kyari was very deep, firm, focused and unassuming in his national assignment until his death.
“He was a man of deep convictions and courage who understood his role and performed it with uncommon dedication and effectiveness.
“He shared the values of President Buhari and his passion for the emancipation of the poor in Nigeria and the all-round development of the country for the benefit of all its people.
“Mallam Kyari played his role well and will always be appreciated, more so now that the Almighty Allah has called time on his earthly sojourn,” Lawan said.
The Senate President prayed that Allah will accept his soul into Aljannah and comfort all who have been left in grief by his passage.