Mallam Garba Shehu, spokesperson to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday maintained his principal left office with his integrity completely intact, stating categorically that no one can truthfully claim to have bribed him during his tenure.
He also clarified Buhari’s current financial situation, describing the former leader as maintaining a modest lifestyle with limited personal wealth.
Shehu further dismissed the long-standing certificate controversy that emerged during the 2015 elections as politically motivated allegations, reiterating that the matter had been properly addressed during Buhari’s presidency. The statements represent a robust defense of the former leader’s personal and ethical standing since leaving office.
Speaking with journalists on why the ex-president doesn’t grant press interviews, Shehu said, “Buhari is one of the most voracious readers in Nigeria. He reads all Newspapers. He asks for Newspapers every morning. Buhari doesn’t speak to media because he wasn’t a showman and wanted his work to impact on the people.”
Shehu stated these in Abuja while fielding questions from journalists after a press conference to announce the public presentation of his 260-page book on July 9 titled, “According to The President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience.”
“Buhari is broke and does not have money. Since Buhari left office, no journalist has called me to say ‘we’re going to press’ and want my reaction. I now sleep very well.”
“The allegation over certificate was a product of politics surrounding the 2015 election”, Shehu said.
He said the book documents the rough and tough moments, and also provides reading material to students, practitioners and researchers on the lessons learned in many years of presidential communications.
Arise News reports that Garba was Spokesperson of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the second tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo (2003-2007).
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Shehu also explained his trials while serving Atiku during Obasanjo’s administration.
He said, “During his second term of office, President Obasanjo declared war on his vice president in a major crisis that sent threats – including the fear of death – flying around.
“At some point, the VP himself went underground as you would read it in the book. As the VP’s spokesman, the author chronicles his experiences as a principal officer in the Obasanjo presidency (Office of the Vice President) and his subsequent expulsion; his life as a person of interest to the security agencies, a detainee in the Department of State Service, DSS and the Kuje prison, and the story of his trial in the courts spanning over two years.”
He said the book brings lessons to media practitioners and politicians in their relationships with each other; how to work with the media, the society, the courts, and law enforcement agencies.
Shehu said, “I didn’t go there (controversy over alleged certificate issue) because it was a matter that had been resolved. Buhari was a product of politics and was cleared because the certificate was found. He was a military secretary. The allegation was a product of politics. Government College, Katsina was burnt. Some officers were punished for being used by politicians.
“People will see in due course whether Buhari did his best or not. History will be kind to Buhari. When he came in, the big issue for him was Boko Haram. Farmers and herders crisis has been an old crisis from colonial times. He did his best but some Governors don’t trust him.”
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