Aso Rock Chronicles: Buhari Did NOT Sack Kyari Amid COVID-19 Status

A blog site publication stated that the President fired his Chief of Staff, further appointing Ajimobi as a replacement. 

Not only is there no media report to corroborate this claim, but the presidency also debunked it. 

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It seems we had more to worry about other than April Fools last week. Incidentally, a blog, 24Reports, published on April 1 that the president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has dismissed his Chief of Staff. Apparently, Buhari made this decision owing to Abba Kyari’s COVID-19 status, according to this blog. Per the report, Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, broke the news. The report quoted him thus:

“The end of the arrangement of Abba Kyari produced quick results. What’s more, the President have designated Abiola Ajimobi as New COS”

News of Abba Kyari’s COVID-19 status is currently mainstream. He reportedly developed symptoms days after he arrived from his trip to Germany; subsequently going for a test which came out positive. After confirming his COVID-19 status, rumour had it that Abba Kyari was sneaked out of the country for treatment along with the president.

However, Dubawa’s findings revealed this was false. The check further confirmed that the duo was present in the country. While Kyari was receiving treatments in Lagos, no evidence suggested the president was infected with the virus.

Verification

There has been no credible news publication that speaks to the removal or replacement of Abba Kyari. 

Meanwhile, it seems this claim has been making the rounds on WhatsApp prior to blog publication. President Buhari’s personal assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmaad attested to this in a tweet where he debunks the claim. He further advised the public to disregard and dishonour the viral claim. Another iteration names Alhaji Babagana as Kyari’s replacement.

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Yet another fake news started trending on some WhatsApp groups that ‘President @MBuhari sacked Mallam Abba Kyari and replaced him with former Gov. Abiola Ajimobi’, disregard and dishonor it, entirely untrue!

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) March 30, 2020

Besides, other verification platforms such as CDD also rated this false. So why does this conjecture persist? Well, evidently falsehoods persist post verification; thus buttressing the need for the repetition and emphasis of truth and facts! Hence, we advise that before you share anything be sure it is not fake news and when in doubt, don’t share.