Who is Buhari's next Chief of Staff?

By Muhammed Saheed Osioyemi

The nation was thrown into acerbic and frost mourning yesterday following the death of The Nigerian President Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari. With the unfolding after his death, Nigerians harbour and held different notions about the man. While some considered him to be an energetic, dedicated and committed man, others perused him as a self-centred, corrupt and also the one behind the numerous problems affecting the country.

However, he served as the Chief of Staff under President Muhammed Buhari administration. He was first appointed on 27th of August 2015, and his reign faced with a number of animosities and disputes. Despite all, it didn’t deter his reappointment.

Immediately after his burial yesterday, speculation start to rent the political arena about who has the requisite requirements to fill up the vacuum left by the death of Abba Kyari.

Among the names posing to be likely successor to Kyari as being speculated include Babagana Kingibe who was a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, former Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu and Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Colonel Hameed Ali (retd)

Kingibe, 74, was the vice-presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1993. He was conferred with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) by President Buhari in 2018.

Also, Ali, a former military administrator of Kaduna State, was Buhari’s chief of staff until Kyari’s appointment in 2015.

For his part, Adamu, a former columnist in Daily Trust is very close to the president. He was secretary to Buhari’s Transition Committee in 2015.

Opinions From different Quarters

A writer and public analyst, Ibraheem Abdullateef emphatically posited that Adamu Adamu remains the preferable person to fill in the vacuum among the suggested and speculated individuals. “I would go for Mr Adamu Adamu as Kyari’s successor if I were the president, not because he is the best Nigeria has now, but he appears to be most suitable among the shortlisted candidates,” said Abdullateef.

He also advised the president to beam the searching light for the replacement to someone who is competent, younger and help the president in achieving the administration’s goals.

“If I could advise Mr Buhari, I’d suggest he look further away for an equally competent but younger person. I know the position is a vastly important one but someone of that mould will complement the ageing presidency,” he added.

“The FG should also not delay announcement as it could prove fertile ground for scheming and petty politicking which would lead to distraction for governance,” he concluded.

While interacting with Comr. Abdullateef Ishowo who is an author and a public analyst, he brought to light that selection of CoS to Nigerian president is not clearly stated in the constitution, as such it would come with sentiment and jostling. “The position of a CoS to Nigerian President is though not clearly stated in the constitution, it’s such an important position that’d naturally trigger off sentiments, jostling & manoeuvring whenever a vacuum of this nature is created. Mr President may though have a dark horse holding close to his chest for the position, names of some of his close associates have started flying around,” he said.

In furtherance to his assertion, he urged the president select someone who that’s capable to help the administration towards actualizing its set goal “However, whoever that may succeed the late Kyari amongst the known & unknown contenders should have the Nigerian project and interest of Nigerians at heart. So that the goals of PMB’s NextLevel (whatever it means) may be realised,” he concluded.

A political strategist and analyst, Tajudeen Habeeb likened the position of CoS to the Yoruba traditional leadership which is Ajiroba who oversees the total affairs of the king and the palace. “It is important to put into perspective the position

of the chief of staff, closely related to this position in Yoruba traditional leadership is that of Ajiroba, which infers that this person knows the president in and out and have inequality among others, a firm ideology in tandem with the president. That’s what stands the late Abba Kyari out.”

“Among the names shortlisted, I believe politics and influence will play out, but it is important we look at the personalities, their relationship, their antecedent, and the technical know-how. As pushed out by Garba Shehu, the COS is the first adviser of the president and the last, as such must be vast.”

He, however, fenced out Babagana from the race because of bus disloyalty which placed out on different occasions.
“Babagana kingigbe for me is an outsider if you put the factor of ideology and relationship into consideration and his antecedent of disloyalty is well documented, ” he declared.

“For me, I will advise the FG to among other criteria, look for a unifier in chief of staff. An upright and a firm believer of the president’s ideology, this is important for a smooth working relationship, as well as the accomplishment of the president, ‘s set goals,” he concluded

The family and allies of the deceased are still wallowing and nursing the agony emanated from the death of Abba Kyari, the secret battle of who will succeed him keeps crawling on speed pace till the president reel out an official replacement for the vacuum.