Former Presidential Spokesperson Garba Shehu has described late President Muhammadu Buhari as one of the rarest individuals to grace political life anywhere in the world.
Shehu eulogised the late Nigerian Leader as an incorruptible servant of the people, motivated not by pride or riches — the accumulation of which, he said, repelled him — but drawn instead to public service, discipline, patriotism, and the unity of Nigeria as one nation and one idea.
“In his long service, first in the military, he campaigned to keep Nigeria as a single country, and later, briefly holding the position of Head of State, he fought to tackle rampant corruption,” Shehu said.
He recalled Buhari’s journey as a converted democrat after the return of elections in 1999, campaigning relentlessly to prevent Nigeria from becoming what he feared would be an elected but corrupted one-party state. According to Shehu, without Buhari’s refusal to back down, the disparate democratic opposition might never have united, and there would be no true multi-party system in Nigeria today.
“Once that unity was achieved, Buhari — who else? — was chosen as the opposition’s flagbearer. In 2015, he became the first candidate to win election over an incumbent — for Nigeria, the first time power changed hands peacefully between the victor and vanquished,” Shehu recollected.
Noting that Buhari’s two elected terms coincided with global economic challenges and terrorism threats in the Sahel, Shehu said, “He tackled both, creating new and welcome welfare programmes, and decisively breaking the power of Boko Haram.”
He further described Buhari as a deeply religious man who opposed partisanship. “He enlisted a southern pastor as his two-time running mate and regularly wrote about Christianity and its relations with his own Muslim faith,” Shehu said.
“After assuming office, he struck up a lasting friendship with the Archbishop of Canterbury, with tolerance and modesty as well as religious fervour being attributes they shared,” Shehu added.
On accusations of favouring the North, Shehu said Buhari acted to protect national unity. “Facing down accusations of favouring the North, he created ranches for northern herders to protect the livelihoods of southern farmers, saving lives and fostering better relations,” he stated.
On Buhari’s modesty, Shehu remarked, “After retiring from office, he returned to his farm and tended to his cattle, staying scrupulously out of the public eye and away from politics — always and intentionally refusing to comment.”
Describing Buhari as a man who avoided political meddling, Shehu said, “It was more important for this modest man to give a wide berth to his successor than to express any opinion, believing intervention in political affairs by ex-leaders was rarely merited, and more often a sign of a vanity he would never personally countenance.”
Shehu concluded his tribute with high praise, stating, “He was the best of Nigeria, and we are all less without him. He led a life full enough for many men. He will be remembered best by his own words: ‘I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.’”
Garba Shehu served as the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to former President Muhammadu Buhari. He recently unveiled a memoir titled “According to the President: Lessons From a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience”, chronicling the trials, turbulence, and triumphs of public communication at the highest level, and reflecting on what it means to serve, be misunderstood, and find purpose in the process.
The former Nigerian Leader will be interred today, 15th July 2025, at 1300 GMT in Daura, Katsina State.
PIAK