- Shehu: Rat Story Was Distraction from Buhari’s Illness
- Buhari was said to be working from home, fuelling widespread concern over his fitness to govern
- The story drew both mockery and outrage from Nigerians
By Grateful Ogunjebe
Former presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, has admitted that the viral 2017 story about rats invading President Muhammadu Buhari’s office was a fabrication aimed at diverting public attention from the president’s failing health.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the incident followed Buhari’s return to Nigeria after spending nearly three months in the United Kingdom for medical treatment.
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Instead of resuming duties at his Aso Rock office, Buhari was said to be working from home, fuelling widespread concern over his fitness to govern.
Shehu, in his newly launched book, “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience,” revealed that the rat story was a deliberate media spin.
“In the few hours after the president’s return, I picked up a conversation about rats damaging cables in his unused office,” he wrote.
“As pressure mounted, I told the media that rodents had destroyed some office infrastructure — just to shift focus from the president’s health.”
Shehu added that the explanation sparked calls from journalists, including BBC Hausa, questioning what kind of rats existed in Aso Rock.
He said he doubled down on the tale by referencing legendary ‘rice armada’ rats from the 1980s, known for eating through almost anything.
The story drew both mockery and outrage from Nigerians, with many accusing the presidency of hiding the true state of Buhari’s health.
Shehu admitted that his aim was to control the narrative and steer public discourse away from the president’s physical condition.
He further revealed that then Information Minister Lai Mohammed and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo challenged the decision, saying the strategy had backfired.
The book has stirred mixed reactions online, especially as Buhari’s health was a controversial issue throughout his presidency.
Many Nigerians recall several instances when the president spent extended periods abroad without formal explanations.
The rat story had gone viral at the time, inspiring memes, cartoons, and national conversations about transparency in leadership.
This latest revelation sheds new light on how state communication was managed during critical moments in Buhari’s tenure.
It has also reignited debates about ethical standards in government PR and how much of what is told to the public is actually true.
