A Special Assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, has offered insight into why former President Muhammadu Buhari rejected a 10 per cent kickback from a reputable construction giant in Nigeria.

Shehu, in his book titled “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience,” launched on Thursday in Abuja, also recalled how the President directed him to return a diamond plate wristwatch offered to him as a gift.

According to the book, a delegation from the Board of Directors of a giant construction company (Namewithed), which handles government contracts such as roads, railways, bridges, and facilities management, visited him (Buhari) at the State House.

He said Buhari told the delegation: “We have been informed that percentage cuts – 10 per cent or more – are built into your contracts, to be shared among government leaders and civil servants. This must stop. We will not accept kickbacks.

“We have equally been informed that you, as handlers of major contracts, build homes for government leaders, you buy expensive cars and maintain them for the beneficiaries. When they, or close relations, fall ill, you take them to hospitals abroad, including the use of air ambulances when that is warranted at no cost to them.

“Our finding is that nothing you give is free. All such costs are built into government contracts. We don’t want that to continue.

“You have built a strong reputation over the years for doing good jobs, delivering them on time. The roads you built all over this city (Abuja) are still in good shape. You built the State House, Aso Rock Villa. So, we will continue to patronise your services. But the high costs will be checked.

“From now going forward, the added costs and all this padding must end. If we ask for quotations from you, tell us the actual cost that the project entails. No 10 per cent, no added costs,” Buhari declared.

The Kano born journalist remarked that on another occasion, a Nigerian American Icon in the global luxury watch and jewellery industry, stated that when he presented a timepiece to the president, he (Buhari) commended the success of the brand overseas, adding that he should keep the flag of Nigeria flying “but directed that the gift be politely returned. I dutifully did so.”