Precisely six weeks ago at the Abuja residence of APC’s former Acting National Chairman, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, we rose from a strategy meeting of our emerging Think Thank, the Institute for Progressive Affairs.
My good friend, Akwa Ibom-born but Calabar-bred Sandy Akaninyene, a complete honourable man, told me he was going to see Senator Abubakar Kyari (then APC Deputy National Chairman, North) at the APC national secretariat.
And while responding swiftly to my excitement and inquiry about how long he had known Kyari, Sandy simply said: ‘’You won’t believe we met just a year ago, we are close now, he’s a perfect gentle man whose word is his bond, unlike many hawkish, selfish, soulless and lying characters calling themselves politicians.
He said that they call him Bature, a Hausa loose word for a white man, to mean he’s honest, humble, sincere and downright straightforward. I will take you to him one of these days, he’s a man you would need to know as a senior journalist’’. I thanked him profusely.
Unfortunately however for me came a short notice from Sandy to the group platform while I was very far away that he had secured Monday July 24, 2023 for a courtesy call to be led by Ntufam Hilliard Eta to congratulate Senator Abubakar Kyari on his elevation as Acting National Chairman of APC following Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s sudden exit. Somehow, our members, notably the cerebral Ali M. Ali and the radiant Saida Khadija gallantly filled the void. But did I regret not meeting Kyari, the man I see as an enigma? Oh, yes! The rest of this piece should prove that.
What manner of man really is the new acting national chairman of the ruling party? Is he really something of an enigma? Is that why they call him Bature? We went to town.
The verdict: Senator Abubakar Kyari is an open book, somewhat a puzzle in a riddle, wrapped in an enigma that cannot be easily explained. And from my scrapbook, I found that an enigma is a person of unpredictable, baffling behavior that does not follow an easy way of definition. He is mysterious but not too difficult to read and understand.
Typical Nigerian politicians are often dodgy, evasive and transactional. But not so for Senator Abubakar Kyari on whose shoulders lies the burden to reconcile the disparate interests in the party but also set the machinery in motion towards arresting the drift from its founding vision of transparency, fairness and accountability in the conduct of its affairs not minding rumours of his imminent ministerial appointment.
Judging by testimonies of people he has related with in his public service life, they are united in their opinions that Bature has all the trappings of a man whose definition of contentment is not in primitive acquisition of wealth. Rather, his core interest is in the commonality of the commonwealth of people he seeks to uplift by his sense of shared humanity.
Senator Abubakar Kyari’s lovely, dutiful and people-loving wife, Bilikisu, in January this year threw a quiet surprise 60th anniversary birthday get-together of relations, friends, associates, supporters and loyalists to thank God for keeping her husband and the doting father of her children.
Bature has spent his entire public life appreciating people, low and mighty, completely shorn of the status of his privileged upbringing among eight siblings who are proud children of a former military administrator of the North Central region, Late Brigadier Abba Kyari under the General Yakubu Gowon’s government between 1967 and 1975. Till date, the younger Kyari does not, even as a privileged class, wear influence as a badge of honour. Has anything changed about him after taking over the reins of leadership of the ruling party? Not at all. Such infectious simplicity!
That is why enigmas are mysterious persons, mindful of their thoughts, feelings, and actions, they are introspective and self-aware. You may never know what he is really thinking, or what his or her motives for doing something are. But the heart of the matter is that he means well. There’s a lot more to him than one sees at a first glance. And wait for this: he does not abandon friends at the drop of a hat!
Analysts reckon that he has a perfect warm relationship with other principal officers of the party notably Deputy National Chairman (South), Emma Enukwu; National Vice Chairman (North-West), Salihu Lukman; National Vice Chairman (North-East), Salihu Mustapha; National Vice Chairman (North Central), Muazu Bawa; National Vice Chairman (South-West), Issacs Kekemeke; National Vice Chairman (South-East), Ejoroma Arodiogu and the Deputy National Secretary (now Acting National Secretary), Barr. Festus Fuanter, National Women Leader, Betty Edu and National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Felix Morka, among others.
Senator Abubakar Kyari is said to find it naturally easy relating with people from across class, creed, region, religion and political leanings in fulfillment of that weighty stanza in the old Nigerian national anthem that runs thus: ‘’Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand’’. His disposition to life makes him most suitable for the present party task and even higher national assignment. He has no doubt acquired hands-on experience to steer the ship of the party having been a major political player in his native home state of Borno where he is widely seen as a great unifier and bridge- builder.
Born on the 15 January 1960 in Borno State, he attended Kaduna Capital School in 1974 before proceeding to Barewa College where he obtained his WASCE in 1979. He travelled to the United States of America (USA) where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in 1986 from the University of Tennessee Martin. Thereafter in 1989 in the same USA, he attended Webster University St. Louis Missouri for his Masters in Business Administration.
In 1998, Kyari was ventured into politics and was elected as a member of the House of Representatives under the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP). Between 1999 and 2003, he was again elected into the House of Representatives on the platform of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP).
From 2003 to 2005 through 2007 to 2011, he came back home to Borno, his home state and was appointed Chief of Staff to former Borno State Governor now Vice President Kashim Shettima and later as a Commissioner.
In 2015, he was elected Senator representing Borno North on the platform of the APC where he was appointed as Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence. Upon his re-election in 2019, he was appointed as Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory where he served till his appointment as Deputy National Chairman in 2022. While in the 8th Senate, he was also Chairman Senate Committee on INEC, Chairman Senate Ad Hoc Committee Investigating the Concession of the Port Harcourt Refinery to AGIP, Member Senate Committee on Power, Member Senate Committee on Works, Member Senate Committee on Water Resources
He has featured prominently in mainstream politics since the advent of the current democratic dispensation holding sensitive positions, executing crucial assignments that had showcased his grasp of intriguing power play that has kept his head above the murky waters of politics.
Shortly after he became deputy national chairman, the immediate past FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello on 17 April last year led his permanent secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, chief of staff Bashir Mai-Bornu, FCDA executive secretary, FCDA Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed, Mandate secretaries and other top management officials to pay a thank-you and congratulatory visit to him, commending his commitment to the development of the Federal Capital Territory while he served as Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT.
“Basically, we have come as a team to convey to you our deep and sincere appreciation for the way you conducted the affairs of the FCT Senate Committee and the way you interfaced very closely with myself, the Hon. Minister of State, the Permanent Secretary, the Chief of Staff, and all the senior management staff. In all our official encounters with you, you did it with dedication to duty and passion for the development of the Federal Capital Territory. We are particularly delighted with this (elevation) because quite frankly, we know you are the right person for the job at the right time.
“The gold fish has no hiding place. For those of us who have known you for quite some time, you are well positioned to take this responsibility. You have served as a public officer in various capacities -as Commissioner and Chief of Staff, and you have done very well also as a politician’’, the former FCT minister said.
Finding internal peace, cohesion and stability of the party remains Senator Abubakar Kyari’s major task in the weeks and months ahead. From all indications, he is unquestionably committed achieving just that. Remember Borno State is Home of Peace. I wish him good luck.
