Former presidential spokesperson, Malam Garba Shehu, has dismissed claims that he turned his back on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar by joining the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday during a media chat ahead of the launch of his upcoming memoir titled “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience”, Shehu clarified the circumstances that led to his role in the Buhari government. The book is scheduled for public release on July 9.
Shehu, who had previously served as a media adviser to Atiku, explained that his involvement in Buhari’s team was not a betrayal, but rather a decision that aligned with the collective interest of key figures in the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the party’s 2014 presidential primaries.
He recalled that after Buhari secured the APC ticket, other aspirants—including Atiku—offered their support to the campaign by donating their assets and structures.
This unified move, Shehu said, laid the foundation for his appointment as spokesperson of the APC presidential campaign and later as media aide to the president.
He emphasized that his decision to serve in the Buhari administration was in line with the political realities of the time and did not reflect personal disloyalty.