“Buhari Was a Slow Leader” – Garba Shehu Admits

Former presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu has acknowledged that Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership during his tenure as Nigeria’s president was notably slow, attributing this to the former military ruler’s transformation into a democrat committed to due process. Speaking during an interview on Arise News Tuesday night, Shehu explained that Buhari deliberately avoided impulsive decision-making and instead insisted on following the rule of law throughout his administration.

Shehu noted that Buhari often joked about the perception of his slowness and was aware of public impatience with his leadership style. “When he came in, he was brash as military head of state, he just did things on impulse, and he ordered people to be locked up,” Shehu said. “But this time, as a converted democrat, he needed to follow the due processes that the law says he should follow.”

He argued that Nigerians were eager for quick solutions, but Buhari remained committed to democratic norms. “Nigerians are very impatient. We want to rush through things. But he says, ‘No. The democratic process sets the rules. And I must not go against them.’”

Responding to the widespread belief that Buhari was often unaware of developments under his government, Shehu strongly disagreed, insisting that the former president was highly informed. “This thing about Buhari being unaware, it is totally, totally misplaced. If you permit me, I would say that he perhaps would pass as the most aware president Nigeria has ever had,” he said, adding that Buhari preferred to let his work speak for itself rather than seek media attention or public validation.

Buhari, who made history in 2015 as the first opposition leader to defeat an incumbent president in Nigeria, served two terms under the All Progressives Congress (APC). His administration introduced a series of economic policies that were met with widespread criticism, and many Nigerians continue to blame his leadership for the economic difficulties the country faces today.