Former Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has denied claims that the former president planned to sabotage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Shehu made the clarification on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking to journalists ahead of the public launch of his book, According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience, set for July 9.
There have been suggestions that Buhari delayed removing the fuel subsidy until the last national budget of his tenure in 2023 to cause difficulties for Tinubu’s government. This view stems from widespread complaints by Nigerians about economic hardships and hunger following Tinubu’s announcement on May 29, 2023, that the subsidy regime was ending.
Shehu dismissed these allegations, emphasizing that subsidy removal was not intended to undermine Tinubu’s government.
He pointed out that both Buhari and Tinubu are members of the All Progressives Congress, questioning why Buhari would act to damage a government led by his own party.
“Both President Buhari and the incoming President, Bola Tinubu were members of the APC. So we couldn’t have planned to sabotage our own government,” Shehu said.
He further praised Buhari’s integrity, saying the former president came into office without corruption and left with his reputation intact. According to Shehu, Buhari prioritized impactful governance over showmanship.
“President Buhari was above corruption. He came to government with integrity and left with his integrity intact. He did his best. He did well for the country and history will be kind to him. President Buhari wasn’t a show man. He wanted his works to impact on Nigerians,” Shehu added.
On questions regarding his previous role as spokesman to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Shehu defended his loyalty to Buhari’s administration.
When asked why he sometimes criticized Atiku despite having served him, Shehu responded:
“Why won’t I attack Atiku when I serve Buhari? We learn from history; you learn from people.”
He also said Buhari would not have trusted him if he had been “romancing” Atiku while serving in his government.
It is recalled that Shehu was once Atiku’s spokesman before joining Buhari’s administration.
