Nigeria

Abba Kyari: Ministers push for cabinet candidate as Buhari's CoS

Friday, May 01, 2020 at 10:00 PM by Rahaman Abiola

Amid growing dialogue on who becomes Nigeria's next chief of staff, members of the federal executive council are reportedly pushing for the appointment of one of them as Abba Kyari's successor.

According to The Nation, some of the ministers who want one of them to be chosen have set the wheel on the fast lane in order to convince President Muhammadu Buhari that one of them is capable of taking the baton where Kyari dropped it.

Legit.ng recalls that Kyari, considered the most powerful chief of staff in the history of Nigeria, died on Friday, April 17, at the First Consultants Hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos after weeks of a battle with complications from Covid-19 infection.

The Borno-born lawyer turned politician was buried on Saturday, April 18, according to Islamic rites. He was interred at exactly 11.20am at the military cemetery in Abuja’s Gudu neighbourhood amidst tears from family members and supporters.

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Abba Kyari: APC makes its position known on who becomes President Buhari's next chief of staff

While Kyari's death is a big blow that left a huge scar in the hearts of friends and family members, it is apparently a big loss in the Buhari-led administration which he co-managed with his powerful influence as the chief of staff.

Many top Nigerians have been tipped to occupy his position with Babagana Kingibe, a very powerful politician, leading the race.

With talks going on who becomes the next chief of staff, Buhari's ministers want the president to pick a capable hand from the FEC in other to maintain the synergy that existed between president and his late "most trusted" chief of staff.

“Although the Chief of Staff is a personal staff of the President, ministers are desirous of one of them as the successor to Kyari. Some of them are lobbying for the appointment of one of them.

“Their argument is that it will enhance synergy between the President and his cabinet since ministers now report to the Chief of Staff," a source said.

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This is our preferred choice to replace Abba Kyari as chief of staff - Former lawmakers tell Buhari

Should President Buhari chose to pick his next right man among his ministers, those who have deemed to have fallen on the preferred list include:

1. Adamu Adamu (Minister of Education)

2. Boss Mustapha ( Secretary to the government of the federation)

3. Suleiman Adamu (Minister of Water Resources)

4. Sen. Hadi Sirika (Minister of State for Transportation(Aviation)

5. Ya’u Shehu Darazo (Senior special assistant to the president on special duties)

6. Abubakar Malami (Minister of Justice and attorney general of the federation)

7. Sadiya Umar Farouq (Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Minister)

8. Rotimi Amaechi (Minister of Transportation)

9. Babatunde Raji Fashola (Minister of Works and Housing)

Among these nine candidates, education minister, Adamu Adamu, is said to be a leading candidate due to his closeness to the president.

Similarly, Rotimi Amaechi is toeing the line because of the trust which President Buhari has in him The former Rivers state governor, often labelled as the "president's general", successfully led the campaign which saw APC wrestling power off the loin of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.