Why I will never replace Abba Kyari as Buhari’s Chief of Staff – Isa Funtua

Elder statesman, Alhaji Isa Funtua, has played down the possibility of replace the late Abba Kyari as President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff.

Funtua is one of the close allies of President Buhari and alleged member of the Aso Rock cabal.

Following the death of Kyari, there were reports in some quarters that Funtua might take up Kyari’s job.

“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,” he told BBC Hausa.

According to Funtua, at this age, he should be the one employing people and not struggling for government appointments.

His words, “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.

“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 8am 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.