I fabricated rats in Presidential Villa story to cover Buhari’s sickness – Former Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu

Former presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu has admitted that the story about rats invading President Muhammadu Buhari’s office in 2017 was a deliberate fabrication intended to distract the public from concerns over Buhari’s health.

In his new memoir, Shehu reveals that the idea emerged during discussions about how to manage public scrutiny after Buhari returned from a prolonged medical stay in the UK. At the time, questions arose over why Buhari was working from home instead of his office. Shehu recounted how, during a conversation about a damaged cable in the unused office, someone jokingly mentioned rats, an idea he later presented to reporters to deflect attention.

Shehu acknowledged the story wasn’t based on verified facts but was meant to shift the narrative away from Buhari’s health. The explanation went viral, widely covered by local and international media, and sparked both laughter and criticism.

He also admitted that key government officials, including then Information Minister Lai Mohammed and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, disagreed with the tactic.

In another part of the book, Shehu countered claims that Buhari was detached from governance, stating that the former president was well-informed and regularly consumed news via newspapers, radio, and TV.