Mr Silas Agara, former Nasarawa Deputy Governor says the death of Mallam Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Muhammadu Buhari, is a prove that the pandemic is not a hoax as some Nigerians tend to believe.
Agara, while reacting to the death of the CoS in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia on Saturday, commiserated with the President, family of the deceased of Nigeria over the loss.
NAN reports that the Presidency had on Saturday morning, announced the passage of Kyari who died on Friday, while receiving treatment for COVID-19 having tested positive to the virus.
Agara described Kyari’s death as a national loss in view of his contributions to the development of the nation and his support to the President and other stakeholders in the fight against COVID-19.
“It’s so sad that at this critical time with what we are going through, we are losing such an important person that is supposed to be a major pillar in the fight against COVID-19 to support and advise the president on the best way forward, ” he said.
Agara said the death of the CoS, whom according to him, was one of the closest persons to the President, further testify to the fact that the Coronavirus pandemic was not a hoax as some Nigerians still tend to believe.
He called on those still having doubts about the virus to have a rethink and take necessary preventive measures to guard against the virus.
“The sad passing of the CoS proves that no one is immuned from it and that COVID-19 is not a hoax but it is real. It can get anybody no matter how high or low the person is.
“So every Nigerian must take it more serious now and adhere to the instructions of Mr President and stay safe.
“They should learn from this lesson that COVID-19 is real and adhere to the social distancing directive which is one of the guidelines to keeping ourselves safe.
“The President has lost someone very close to him, a high ranking government official. That means there is a big lesson for all of us and we pray God will comfort the family of the bereaved, our amiable President and the nation.
“It’s not just a loss to the family but a loss to the entire nation because he has been a strong pillar in all the things we have achieved as a government in the last five years and so we will continue to pray for him,” he said.