Former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu, has firmly dismissed speculation that his former boss plans to oppose President Bola Tinubu or the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Tuesday, Shehu emphasized that Buhari remains steadfastly committed to the APC, describing any suggestion of betrayal as unfounded given the party’s role in elevating him to Nigeria’s highest office.
“No, not at all. President Buhari’s position was and still is that he’s an APC person. APC did him the big favour of his life. Made him president for two terms. He is not going to betray that party,” Shehu declared emphatically.
The former presidential aide reminded critics that Buhari’s political success came through the strategic coalition he formed with Tinubu and other APC leaders in 2015, after three unsuccessful presidential bids. “President Buhari ran for office three times and didn’t win until they came together with Tinubu and all the others and they won. Is it President Buhari who will quit?” he asked rhetorically.
Shehu also used the opportunity to defend Buhari’s leadership style against persistent criticism, particularly pushing back against the narrative that the former president was detached from national affairs during his tenure. “This thing about Buhari being unaware, it is totally, totally misplaced. If you permit me, I would say that he perhaps would pass as the most aware president Nigeria has ever had,” he stated.
According to Shehu, Buhari’s approach to leadership was characterized by substance over style, preferring to let his achievements speak rather than engaging in public grandstanding. “President Buhari didn’t just want to cut ribbons and take pictures. He wasn’t a showman. He wanted his work to speak for him,” the former aide explained.
Providing insight into Buhari’s daily routine, Shehu revealed how the former president would often stay ahead of his media team on current affairs. “When we started with him, we would go to Buhari’s house for breakfast and then tell him the radio stations have said, what the talk shows are discussing, and what the newspapers are saying. Believe me, by the time you got to him, he would have read ahead of you,” he recounted.
Shehu disclosed that media channels often provided the most effective route to get Buhari’s attention on pressing issues, rather than traditional bureaucratic processes. “The fastest way they could get to the president at that time with a problem was not to go through civil service and write a memo. Go to the press. Talk to the television,” he revealed.
Addressing criticism about Buhari’s perceived slow decision-making, Shehu argued that this cautious approach reflected the former president’s evolution from military ruler to democrat. “Was he slow? Yeah. He himself had joked about all of that. And he kept on saying, when he came in as military head of state, he was brash, he just did things on impulse and ordered people to be locked up. But this time, as a converted democrat, he needed to follow the due processes that the law says he should follow.”
The former presidential aide acknowledged that Nigerians often grew frustrated with the pace of government decisions under Buhari, but insisted this reflected his commitment to democratic norms and constitutional procedures. “Nigerians are very impatient. We want to rush through things. But he says, ‘No. The democratic process sets the rules. And I must not go against them,'” Shehu explained.
Shehu’s defense comes amid ongoing political speculation about potential realignments within the APC and the broader political landscape as Nigeria approaches the 2027 electoral cycle. His comments appear aimed at quelling rumors and reaffirming the stability of relationships within the ruling party’s leadership structure.
