Former presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, has launched a new book detailing his years under former President Muhammadu Buhari, offering what he calls “an authoritative account” of the administration’s eight-year journey and lessons for future communicators.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Shehu described the book, ‘According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience’, as a work aimed at students, journalists, and researchers keen to understand the inner workings of political communication in Nigeria.
“This is not a personal biography,” Shehu said. “It is a guidebook – a documentation of the tough, and sometimes dangerous, path of public service and journalism in Nigeria.”
The book, which spans 10 chapters, talks about Shehu’s rise from modest beginnings in Dutse and Kano to the highest levels of government, including his earlier stint as spokesman to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
He recounted being arrested and detained by security agencies, tried in court, and eventually acquitted – episodes he believes hold vital lessons for media professionals.
“I was in Kuje prison. I faced a trial for two years. The book documents how and why – and what media practitioners can take away from those experiences,” he said.
Much of the book focuses on the Buhari presidency, offering rare glimpses into the former leader’s personality, decision-making style, and media strategy. Shehu paints Buhari as a reserved but reform-minded president who prioritised substance over showmanship.
“He wasn’t one for cutting ribbons and posing for photographs,” Shehu said. “He wanted the work to speak for itself.”
According to Shehu, the book highlights Buhari’s efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security, roll out large-scale infrastructure, and build institutions of transparency including the Treasury Single Account, the Bank Verification Number, and the Whistleblower Policy.
One chapter, “The Muhammadu Buhari Persona,” examines the president’s leadership values and his quest to decentralise power and fight corruption. Another chapter explores the “tyranny of high expectations” that dogged
Buhari’s government despite what Shehu describes as sincere efforts to uplift the poor, women, and youth through initiatives like the Social Investment Programme.
The book also includes reflections on Shehu’s return to the Villa after being previously fired in 2003—an unusual second act in Nigerian politics—and discusses the delicate balance required to manage relationships with the media, government institutions, and the public.
“I walked on eggs without breaking too many,” he said, describing his time in office.
In the final chapters, Shehu tackles fake news, spin, and communication failures, offering case studies of how the presidency responded to criticism and media pressure. A key essay in the book was contributed by US-based scholar Prof. Charles Okigbo, focusing on misinformation in the digital age.
Garba Shehu’s latest publication joins a growing list of post-administration memoirs attempting to frame the Buhari legacy. He acknowledged the work of fellow former spokesman Femi Adesina but insisted his account brings new material and fresh insights.
“I invite the nation to read this book,” he said. “There are lessons in here for everyone – students, scholars, reporters, and public officials.”
