BREAKING: These are tough times for President Buhari as he loses yet another aide

President Muhammadu Buhari last Friday lost his longtime friend and Chief of Staff Abba Kyari to the Covid-19 pandemic.

While the President is fighting hard to manage the pain of the exit of Kyari, the Presidency, on Tuesday, announced the death of one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s personal bodyguards, Warrant Officer Lawal Mato.

Mato, according to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, died after three years of battling diabetes on Tuesday.

Mato died after three years of battling diabetes

He was one of the security details restored back to President Buhari by the late President Umaru Musa-Yar’adua as personal security, but had been off full duty in the last three years.

The officer was described by the President as “very thorough, trustworthy and dependable soldier who carried out his duties with diligence and focus”. Mato had worked with the President years before he won the 2015 elections.

“After three years of struggling with diabetes, one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s bodyguards, Warrant Officer Lawal Mato, on Tuesday passed away.

“The President described the officer, who had been working with him for many years before he won the 2015 elections, as ‘very thorough, trustworthy and dependable soldier who carried out his duty with diligence and focus.

“President Buhari prayed that Allah will ease his passage to paradise and grant his family, government and people of Jigawa State, the fortitude to bear the loss.

“WO Mato was part of a team that former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua restored to President Buhari as personal security and he had been off full duty for three years, treating diabetes”, the statement said.