Former presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, has refuted claims that he betrayed Atiku Abubakar by joining President Muhammadu Buhari’s media team in 2015.
He recently explained that he never turned his back on Atiku, and he simply seized an opportunity that presented itself after circumstances changed.
Speaking ahead of the launch of his new book titled “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience,” set for release on July 9, Shehu revealed that after Atiku and others lost the All Progressives Congress presidential primary in 2014, all of their campaign media teams, including his, got merged into Buhari’s campaign.
According to him, several politicians, including Atiku, Rochas Okorocha and Kwankwaso, contributed their media assets to the Buhari campaign, and he also played his part when called upon.
“All the aspirants, including Atiku, Rochas Okorocha, Kwankwaso, and the late Sam Nda-Isaiah, contributed their media assets to the Buhari campaign. I was part of that pool.
The President had the grace to appoint me as campaign media director. That’s how I came on board,” he said.
Emphasising that he never spoke against Atiku while he worked with Buhari, he stated that attacking Abubakar would have made Buhari trust him less.
He disclosed that even IBB never spoke ill of MKO Abiola despite their very public fallout many years ago.
“If I had attacked Atiku, how would Buhari trust me? He would assume I could do the same to him one day.
I learned from history. Even during the fallout between Abiola and IBB, did you hear the presidential spokesman vilify Abiola?” Shehu said.
He further noted that his new book is not a personal life story, but a guide for young Nigerians who wish to delve into the world of journalism and public relations.
He concluded by saying that the Buhari government laid the groundwork for a more self-reliant Nigeria, and it set a new standard for transparency in governance.
“The book is meant to inspire students and professionals in journalism and PR. It also tells the story of what President Buhari did during his eight years in office his policies, his character, and how he governed,” he added.
