Abba Kyari: Chief of Staff Position, An Insult To My Personality – Isa Funtua

The appointment of new Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari since the death of former CoS, late Mallam Abba Kyari who died after days of suffering from Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been a trending headline on several media houses and on social media apps.

Listed among other possible replacement for the position is a Nigerian businessman, OFR, min,  Alhaji Ismail Isa Funtua, who is also an in-law to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Naija News understands that Isa Funtua’s son is married to one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter.

However, the suggestion of becoming the new Chief of Staff to the president has been rubbished by the affluent man who noted that the position is ‘an insult to his personality.’

In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, Isa Funtua said that the position is supposed to be for young aged able men and not a successful man like him.

He noted that he should be employing people and not struggling for any government appointments now.

“I heard people mentioning my name to replace Abba Kyari but I take the story as an insult instead. I have once worked with the government in the 80s, worked with white men and also was once a Minister of the Federal republic. For someone to mention my name for that position is an insult especially for a man who served as a minister nearly 40 years ago and out of government,” Isa Funtua was quoted as saying.

He added, “I should be employing people now, not trying to struggle for government appointments. At my level and age, people should first see if I am fit to serve and see if I am strong enough and if I am up-to-date with current realities of governance.

“Even if they approach the president with my name, he knows he cannot ask me to serve at this age. For God’s sake, you mean at my age, I should be waking up at 8 am to go to work? Haba, I am way passed that lifestyle. It’s for people like you (referring to the BBC journalist) and other much younger persons. We should stop making caricatures of public offices simply because of the sake of getting appointments,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu has been hinted to be President Muhammadu Buhari’s favourite on becoming the new Chief of Staff.

According to a top government source who spoke with SaharaReporters, Buhari would have wanted Babagana Kingibe but was prevailed upon to drop him.