Former presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu says Muhammadu Buhari has no plans to turn against President Tinubu or the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, NaijNaira can report.
During an interview with Arise News, Shehu emphasized that Buhari remains loyal to the party that gave him Nigeria’s highest political 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,” he said.
Shehu reminded critics that Buhari’s historic 2015 victory only became possible after he teamed up with Tinubu and other APC figures following three failed attempts.
“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.
Shehu rejected claims that Buhari was disconnected from national affairs, calling them “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 said.
He described Buhari as someone who rejected political showmanship and preferred quiet performance.
“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,” Shehu added.
According to him, Buhari was often steps ahead of his media team in digesting daily news.
“He would have read ahead of you before you even got to him,” Shehu recalled.
The fastest way to get Buhari’s attention, he said, was through the media, not government bureaucracy.
“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 said.
Responding to criticism about Buhari’s slow pace, Shehu said the former military leader had embraced democratic values.
“Was he slow? Yeah. He himself had joked about all of that. And he kept on saying… this time, as a converted democrat, he needed to follow due processes,” he noted.
Shehu concluded by saying that Buhari’s methodical pace was a conscious choice to respect legal and constitutional boundaries.
“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,’” he said.
Article updated 1 day ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
