Buhari’s Ex-Spokesman Garba Shehu Reveals Rat Story Was Distraction from His Health Issues

 
In a startling confession, Garba Shehu, former Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex‑President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed that the infamous story of rats invading the Presidential Villa in 2017 was a deliberate falsehood—devised to distract public scrutiny from Buhari’s deteriorating health.

Speaking at the launch of his memoir, According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience, Shehu disclosed that the tale originated in a bid to quell growing concern over the president’s absence after nearly three months of medical treatment in the United Kingdom. The presidency had announced that Buhari would temporarily work from home, further fueling speculation about his capacity to govern.

In Chapter 10: “Rats, Spin and All That”, Shehu recounted overhearing a discussion about damaged wiring in the Chief of Staff’s office—an area unused since the president’s lengthy absence. A joke among aides that rats might be responsible inspired Shehu to seize the moment.

Under mounting media pressure, he told reporters that the disused office required renovation because rats had eaten through cables. The narrative quickly went viral, even making headlines on BBC World News.

To reinforce the story, Shehu referenced a 1980s rodent invasion linked to the "rice armada" imports—a claim widely criticized and ridiculed. “Many critics disagreed with me, saying we were covering up the president’s ill health… an insignificant few believed me.

Shehu admitted the fabrication was a calculated choice. He aimed to redirect public conversation away from Buhari’s health status and suitability to govern. While he considered the effort successful, key officials—including then-Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo—disagreed, condemning the approach as misleading and tone‑deaf.

The revelations appear in According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience, launched in Abuja. Shehu's candid admissions shed new light on the lengths to which the administration went to manage optics around Buhari's extended medical leave and raise questions about communication ethics at the highest levels.