Buhari never transferred presidential power to Kyari — Garba Shehu reacts to reports

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu 

Presidency on Tuesday reacted to reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has transferred power to his late chief of staff, Abba Kyari, when he was alive.

Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, in a statement denied such alligations, insisting that all actions taken by the late chief of staff had presidential approval.


Shehu also denied media reports alleging that President Buhari has cancelled a number of memos and appointments signed off by Mr Kyari before his death.

Kyari, an influential aide of the president, died from coronavirus over a month ago. He has since been replaced by Ibrahim Gambari, a 75 years old professor and diplomat.




When he was alive, Kyari was accused by several officials including the First Lady Aisha Buhari and National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno of usurping presidential powers to take certain actions.

Aisha accused Kyari of being a member of a ‘cabal’ that allegedly manipulating the president to their will.

But Buhari largely ignored many of the allegations against Mr Kyari while the latter was alive.


In his statement on Tuesday, however, Mr Shehu said the president never ceded power to Kyari or anyone else, suggesting all actions taken by Mr Kyari had presidential approval.

He said, “He has not and will never cede to anyone else, that power and trust given to him by the Nigerian people,”.

Below is the full statement.

PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON 150 MEMOS IS FAKE NEWS



The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to media reports alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled a number of memos and appointments signed off by his former Chief of Staff. Not surprisingly, these reports have quoted unnamed sources.

There is not a grain of truth in these reports and Nigerians should please ignore the insinuations behind them.

President Buhari was duly re-elected by Nigerians in February 2019. He has not and will never cede to anyone else, that power and trust given to him by the Nigerian people.