Garba Shehu, former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has paid a heartfelt tribute to his former boss, hailing him as a rare example of incorruptible leadership and simplicity in public service.
Shehu’s remarks came during an appearance on Arise News on Tuesday, where he recounted his final visit to Buhari in London, days before the former president’s passing.
Shehu described the late Nigerian leader as a statesman who never wavered in his values, even in his final days. According to him, Buhari was deeply rooted in the principles of honesty, modesty, and selfless service.
Recalling their last encounter, Shehu said he visited the ailing former president to deliver a finalized copy of a book that had recently been launched in Buhari’s honour. “He had seen the prototype in Kaduna before he travelled and wanted to keep it. I told him I would bring the final version,” Shehu said.
He also revealed that Buhari had expressed a desire to attend the book launch but was unable to make it due to health issues that had kept him grounded in London.
Speaking more about the late president’s personal conduct, Shehu said, “He was one of the rarest individuals to lead this country. He was incorruptible. Anything that had the smell of corruption, he detested.” He added that Buhari’s lifestyle remained unchanged from his days as a military leader until his final moments, highlighting his preference for modest meals and simple living.
“He led a simple life. When you dined with him, the meals were the kind that ordinary people in society would eat,” Shehu recalled. He emphasized that Buhari had no interest in material possessions or extravagance, noting that the former president never sought to build personal wealth or expand his property.
“Even when the government, following tradition, rebuilt his home in Kaduna, he retained the same furniture and television. In fact, when an aide replaced his small TV with a bigger one, he questioned why it was done,” Shehu said.
Describing Buhari’s intellect and character, Shehu added, “Every interaction with him was like going to school. He was a man of deep wisdom and humility. His simplicity is something you cannot beat.”
Despite earlier updates suggesting the former president was recovering from his illness, Shehu said his death came as a painful shock to those close to him. “The information we kept getting from London was that the worst was behind President Buhari and he was in a recovery mode, getting better. For us to be hit by this sad news is really devastating.”
As tributes continue to pour in from across the country and beyond, Shehu’s reflections further paint a portrait of a leader whose moral discipline, plain lifestyle, and enduring commitment to public duty left a profound impact on Nigeria’s political landscape.
What you should know
Garba Shehu, Buhari’s longtime aide, praised the late former president’s incorruptibility and humble lifestyle in a recent interview. He shared intimate details about Buhari’s simplicity, personal ethics, and final days in London, calling his death a devastating loss for Nigeria.
