The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reacted to former presidential aide Garba Shehu’s recent remarks, saying they support what its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, had said years ago about the handling of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical absence.
In a statement released on Saturday, July 12, 2025, IPOB spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, said Shehu’s confession about the much-talked-about “rat invasion” story confirms the doubts raised by Kanu over the true state of things during Buhari’s time out of the country for medical reasons.
Garba Shehu, in his newly released book, reportedly admitted that the story about rats taking over Buhari’s office in 2017 — which was used to explain the delay in the president’s return to work — was not entirely true. According to him, it was used as a public cover while Buhari was still undergoing treatment abroad.
IPOB responded by saying that this revelation fits into what Kanu had been pointing out for years, especially regarding how the Nigerian government managed and communicated with citizens during Buhari’s long medical trips. The group said this only proves the need for openness in matters that affect national leadership.
“This development supports our earlier calls for more openness about the health and availability of those in leadership,” IPOB stated. “Our leader had expressed concern about these issues, and now some of those concerns appear to be acknowledged, even if belatedly.”
IPOB went on to remind Nigerians about the importance of transparency in leadership. It said citizens have every right to demand honest information from those in power and should not be misled with cover stories.
The group further urged Nigerians to learn from past events and insist on truth and accountability in future situations. It also called on world powers and global institutions to play a role in promoting responsible governance across African nations.
