Former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Malam Garba Shehu, has dismissed talks that he turned his back on ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar when he chose to work under the Buhari-led administration.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja during a press session to introduce his upcoming book, “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience”, Shehu cleared the air on the longstanding claims of betrayal.
The book is set to be formally launched on July 9 and shares his reflections on the years spent as the media aide to President Buhari.
Shehu, who once served as Atiku Abubakar’s spokesperson, noted that the move to join Buhari’s campaign team in 2014 was not an act of disloyalty. He explained that after Buhari emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential flagbearer, all the aspirants who contested the primary, including Atiku, handed over their campaign resources to support the party’s chosen candidate.
In his words, Shehu said Buhari’s decision to bring him onboard as the campaign spokesperson followed the unity move by party members. “All those who contested with Buhari for the presidential ticket in 2014 donated their campaign assets to Buhari after he won the primary election,” he stated.
Following the success of the presidential campaign and Buhari’s victory in the general election, Shehu was again appointed as the official spokesperson for the President — a position he held throughout Buhari’s tenure.
