As far as Malam Garba Shehu is concerned, former President Muhammadu Buhari was incorruptible throughout his eight-year tenure in office.
Shehu, who was the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to former President Buhari, made the claim ahead of the launch of his memoir entitled: “According to The President: Lessons from A Presidential Spokesman’s Experience”.
Shehu, in an interactive session with reporters on Tuesday in Abuja, further claimed that Buhari’s lifestyle exemplifies his integrity.
“I am happy that nobody up til today, nobody can say I bribed Buhari. There is corruption in the country, there was corruption in our government, I know there was corruption. However, Buhari as a person was above all of that. And that’s a thing of credit to us,” he said.
Asked whether the entire eight-year tenure of the Buhari-led administration was wasted years, he quibbled: “You know, we in this country don’t like our leaders, especially when they are in office. They would love you before you come into the office and when you are there, they just attack and attack.
“And after a while they begin to reflect and say, is it how the man was? There is a Chinese philosopher who said two of the mightiest forces in life are time and patience. With time and patience, people would see whether Buhari gave his best and did well for the country or he did not.”
He insists that under Buhari, Nigeria witnessed an unprecedented transformation of infrastructure, poverty alleviation, and public welfare, which deserves to be etched in golden letters.
He argued that along with strengthening the country’s security, Buhari also enhanced the nation’s stature abroad, adding that his government brought a new culture into government- a culture of personal integrity and set new benchmarks in transparency with the institution of the Treasury Single Account, Tax Identification Number, TIN; BVN; IPPS; Whistle Blower; the usage of NIN number and the various other transparency -enhancing schemes.
He explained that the book aims to authoritatively document the achievements and some of the historic decisions of the Buhari administration over its eight-year tenure.
He added: “It brings President Buhari up close: how did he govern? What did he eat? And the clothes he wears for some occasions? Given his unique personal style, President Buhari wasn’t a leader who merely cut ribbons and took pictures. He wanted his work to speak for him, as he tried to reach the doorstep of the poor through a first-of-its-kind Social Investment Program, SIP.
“His government made sincere efforts to improve the quality of life of the poor, farmers, youths, and women, as well as small businesses and traders.
“While it is not possible in a 260-page book to explain the significant work, policies and programs undertaken by the administration in its eight years, it is not in doubt that President Buhari brought the nation to a new pinnacle in the efforts to lay the foundation for a self-reliant Nigeria.”
