Ondo Monarchs Commiserate With Buhari Over Demise Of Chief Of Staff, Abba Kyari

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

Some Traditional rulers in Ondo state, on Saturday expressed their deep shock and sadness over the demise of Mallam Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari who died of COVID-19 complication.

Recall that the Presidency yesterday announced the passage of Mallam Abba Kyari after battling with Coronavirus.

The Royal fathers who spoke in a Press Statement signed by the President of Ondo State 130 Krown Obas Club and Owa-Ale of Ikare Akoko, Oba Kolapo Adegbite-Adedoyin, commiserated with President Buhari over the loss of Mallam Kyari to the deadly disease.

Oba Adegbite-Adedoyin urged Nigerians to follow strictly some of the directives by government on ways to stop spread of the virus despite the current hardship of the COVID-19 lockdown in order for the nation to get out the health crisis in a record time.

President of Ondo State 130 Krown Obas Club and Owa-Ale of Ikare Akoko, Oba Kolapo Adegbite-Adedoyin

The monarch who expressed support to various steps so far taken by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu over the pandemic in Ondo state, prayed Lord to have mercy on the world and grant mankind relief over the coronavirus.

He said “the Obas also commiserate with President Muhammadu Buhari over the death of his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari and other deceased persons who died as a result of complication from COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our prayer is that God in His infinite mercy will have mercy over mankind and bring timely relief to the world amidst the deadly coronavirus.

“The entire members of the Ondo State 130 Krown Obas Club want to express our total support for the declaration of dusk to dawn curfew in Ondo state by the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), to control further spread of deadly coronavirus pandemic in our state.

“As Royal fathers, we are so far satisfied and commend efforts of the Ondo state government under our amiable Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in containing the pandemic especially the timely closure of schools, religious centres, markets and enforcement of stay at home as well as border closure.”

The monarchs, also commended the Ondo state government’s distribution of COVID-19 palliatives to the less privileged, urging wealthy individuals to compliment this government’s initiative at this critical time to make life more meaningful as the lockdown continues.

Oba Adegbite-Adedoyin said “all our traditional rulers in the state to join government and other relevant agencies in enlightening the public on how to prevent the pandemic in our communities. We all know that Community transmission of COVID-19 is very dangerous as it is capable of causing exponential spread of the disease.

“No doubt, this is an emergency period that comes with hardship and sacrifices on the part of citizenry, the Ondo State 130 Krown Obas also plead with security operatives to apply civility in enforcing various government’s directives while they also step up their surveillance to prevent communal crimes during this lockdown.

“We plead with all to obey government’s directives and precautionary measures to enable the country defeat the pandemic in a record time so as to save our land from unprecedented devastating effects of the health crisis on Nigeria as plummeting oil prices and wider economic slump can erase millions of jobs.”