By Tunji Oyebanji, Chairman MOMAN & MD/CEO 11 Plc
LAGOS, Nigeria – Abba Kyari was laid to rest on April 18 and the amount of words written about him, both positive and negative, are a great testimony to the man he was. It would therefore be remiss of me not to say a few words about a man I held in very high esteem.
My words are not aimed at converting those who think otherwise because I have found that in the world, some people will hate you with or without a reason and with little hard or first hand knowledge. Rather my comments are a reflection of my interactions with a man I came to know quite well over a period of years.
Mr. Abba Kyari and I served together on the board of directors of Mobil Oil Nigeria plc. He resigned from the board to take up the position of COS to Mr. President following the elections of 2015.
I was introduced to him by a mutual friend who had worked with him at UBA. At the time, Mobil Oil was trying to fill a board vacancy and wanted a candidate that would ensure diversity but at the same time, be of impeccable character, high integrity , scandal free, experienced and well educated.
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A combination which I dare say is not easy to find on our shores. As time would come to tell, we couldn’t have made a better choice in appointing him to the board as a non=executive director.
My first impressions of him was that he was always punctual for board meetings and he never complained about the transportation or accommodation arranged for him. He was however extremely demanding when it came to explanations from management on the companies operations.
He was a man of extremely strong convictions with a socialist leaning. He was constantly talking about the poor in the society. As a Director, he never once asked for any favours nor sort to do any business with the company and was content with whatever statutory allowances that were paid to all the external directors .
On some of our trips abroad, rather than buy suits and other things, he would always buy loads of books and yes, tea for the “General”
His usual mode of dressing gave a great insight into his personality. Once I asked him about his ubiquitous white poplin babariga and red cap. He proceeded to explain to me that every year, he bought enough material for 6 babarigas and a red hat, this was his attire for the whole year, come rain or shine. When I saw him last on television about a month ago he was dressed in his usual “uniform” unassuming as always.
Throughout the time I knew him, I was only aware of his house in Kaduna and a small 2 bedroom flat in Cambridge which he had for a long time. If he had any other properties, I certainly wasn’t aware but his antecedents and my first hand knowledge of the man make me doubt such a situation very much.
We had only one area where we disagreed. He violently rejected my suggestion of venturing into politics. For a man holding such a high political office, his strong advice on the subject has continued to give me cause for reflection .
He was not a politician in the typical mode. He told me many times that his only agenda was the President’s agenda and he would defend him whatever the cost to him personally. He was indeed fiercely loyal to the President.
While I cannot begrudge people their opinions, I am certainly entitled to mine. To me, Abba Kyari was a loyal servant, humble, unassuming, simple, strict, not given to an ostentatious lifestyle, intellectual and a good friend. May he rest in Peace.”
NB: Tunji Oyebanji is Chairman MOMAN & MD/CEO 11 Plc
