Garba Shehu, former presidential spokesman to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has continued to offer insight into the leadership style and character of the former Nigerian leader, describing him as both a deeply aware and law-abiding president who evolved significantly from his days as a military ruler.
Speaking on Arise Television from 10:44, Shehu addressed criticisms of Buhari’s perceived slowness in governance, explaining that the former president deliberately chose to act within democratic limits, even if it meant being misunderstood by the public.
“Now, was he slow? Yeah, he himself had joked about all of that,” Shehu admitted. “Because, and he kept on saying when he came in, he was brash as military head of state. He just did it on impulse. And he ordered people to be locked up. But this time, as a converted democrat, he needed to follow the due processes that the law says he should follow,” he added.
He continued: “And what is wrong with that? 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.”
Addressing reports that Buhari was unaware or detached from governance, Shehu strongly disagreed.
“I think this is why a lot of them were… and to please correct this information, this thing about Buhari being unaware, it is totally, totally misplaced,” he stated. “If you permit me, I would say that he perhaps would pass as the most aware president Nigeria has ever had,” he added.
Shehu recounted Buhari’s diligence in staying up to date with national discourse: “And I give you this example. When we started with him, because I was coming from, as you said, Atiku campaign, we would pack newspapers in the morning. We would go to Buhari’s house for breakfast. And then tell him that this is what the radio stations have said. This is what we picked on the talk shows. And this is what the newspapers are saying.”
“Believe me, by the time you got to him, he would have read ahead of you,” Shehu said. “And I used to say this. And people thought I wasn’t serious. I was saying that if Nigerians knew the fastest way they could get to the president at that time with a problem, it was not to go through the civil service or write a memo and file and go to the press. Talk to the television,” he added.
According to Shehu, Buhari’s style of governance was understated but deliberate — shaped by discipline, democratic principles, and a strong sense of national duty.
