Abba Kyari Sparks Controversy in Death As Presidential Aides Violate Social Distancing Rule

Cat:

Related stories

Tinubu Departs Saint Lucia, Heads to Brazil for BRICS Summit

By Abiola Olawale President Bola Ahmed Tinubu departed Saint Lucia...

2027: Drama, Intrigues as Julius Abure Tells Otti to Quit Labour Party

By Abiola Olawale In a dramatic turn of events, Barrister...

FG Secures $100m for Lagos-Calabar Project from ECOWAS Bank

By Abiola Olawale The Nigerian government has reportedly secured a...

Ex- Arsenal Star Thomas Partey Faces Rape, Sexual Assault Charges in UK

By Abiola Olawale The Metropolitan Police have formally charged former...

Edwin Cortes: Prefers Being A Small Puerto Rican Than Big American

By Owei Lakemfa To be a citizen of the United...

Some Officials of the Nigerian government reportedly contradicted themselves on the social distancing rule on Saturday, while laying to rest, the late Chief of Staff to the President and a member of the presidency inner circle, Abba Kyari despite the COVID-19 lockdown order enforced in the FCT Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states.

The order currently being enforced globally was to curb the spread of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, but some Presidential aides  reportedly violated the rule as they gathered and freely interacted with one another at Gudu cemetery in Abuja while paying last respect to Kyari in what they termed a ‘private burial.’

Crowd at Abba Kyari’s burial violating social distancing rule amid lockdown in Abuja to stop COVID-19 spread

The burial as carried out and broadcasted live on national TV stations in the country  appears to have gone contrary to earlier stance by authorities and was also in contrast to what Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed had reportedly said that Covid-19 dead bodies would not be released for burial.

Abba Kyari’s body being lowered to the grave in what was termed a ‘private burial’ in Abuja, Saturday

Another disturbing observation allegedly observed during the burial was that close  to  about 200 people gathered for the burial, effectively breaking federal government’s guideline that not more than 20 or at most 50 people should gather at a point in time.

The federal, state, local governments, NGOs, and corporate organisations have for long stressed the need to avoid public gatherings or strictly maintain the social distancing rule in extreme cases that one must go out.

Recall that a popular Nollywood Actress Funke Akindele-Bello and her husband were arrested and prosecuted by the Lagos state government for violating the social distancing rule by hosting house party to celebrate her husband’s birthday. The couple have since been found guilty of the offence and penalized for the action by a court in Lagos.

ALSO READ: Abba Kyari: FCTA Quarantines Mourners at Gudu Cemetery, Decontaminates Environment

The New Diplomat reported that Kyari died on Friday at First Cardiology hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos following complications arising from his COVID-19 treatment.

While frowning at the action, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Saturday warned against mass gatherings as the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and other victims of the COVID-19 pandemic are buried.

Meanwhile, Twitter was agog with comments over the action while the burial lasted as users insisted that all those who attended the burial should have been questioned by now as they did to Akindele’s house party attendants. Many were distraught that the these officials of the  Buhari’s government  who allegedly  breached the social distancing  rule should equally be subjected to the same treatment meted out to others who did same.

Also, a rights activist and lawyer, Edward Brisibe, has reacted to the violation, stating that the action by these officials  appear to show that “some persons are more Nigerian than others.”

Edward in a statement on Saturday, said: “First I want to use this medium in joining the federal government to mourn the death of a man that has played a key role in this administration as well as the families of those who have lost a loved one to the virus.

“But however, on behalf of Nigerians who have lost a loved one as a result of the pandemic and could not have access to such victims for burial owing to the claims by the federal government through the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed that corpses of COVID-19 can’t be claimed by families for burial, the case of Kyari has sown that some persons are more Nigerian than others

“It was indeed sickening and sad to read that the late CoS was flown to Abuja, received by officials of the presidency and family members, and given a private funeral at the Guru general cemetery while families that have lost loved ones to the virus, have been deprived from having access to bury such victims.”

'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide's journalism works intersect business, environment, politics and developmental issues. Among a number of local and international publications, his work has appeared in the New York Times. He's a winner of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award. Currently, the Online Editor at The New Diplomat, Akintomide has produced reports that uniquely spoke to Nigeria's experience on Climate Change issues. When Akintomide is not writing, volunteering or working on a media project, you can find him seeing beautiful sites like the sandy beaches that bedecked the Lagos coastline.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
Tinubu Departs Saint Lucia, Heads to Brazil for BRICS Summit2027: Drama, Intrigues as Julius Abure Tells Otti to Quit Labour PartyFG Secures $100m for Lagos-Calabar Project from ECOWAS BankEx- Arsenal Star Thomas Partey Faces Rape, Sexual Assault Charges in UKEdwin Cortes: Prefers Being A Small Puerto Rican Than Big AmericanJune 12 And The International Pursuit of Justice For Abiola, By Femi FalanaBreaking Down the West’s $146 Billion 2024 Defence Technology InvestmentG7 vs. the World: GDP, Population, and Military StrengthUS drillers cut oil and gas rigs for 10th week in a row, Baker Hughes saysExclusive! Tinubu Tips Late Ajimobi's Wife, Florence, Others for Ambassadorial PostsTinubu Mourns, Pays Tribute to Legendary Super Eagles Goalkeeper Peter RufaiNatasha vs Akpabio: Court Orders Senate President To Recall Senator NatashaHadi Sirika Denies Defection to ADC Coalition Rumors, Reaffirms Loyalty to Buhari, APCChina Snubs U.S. Crude for Third Month, Even as Ethane Trade RestartsHow Super Eagles Icon Peter Rufai passed Away at 61
X whatsapp