Garba Shehu’s book launch: Buhari a highly consequential leader, says Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described ex-President Muhammadu Buhari as one of Nigeria’s most consequential leaders whose time in office shaped the direction of our country in profound ways, promising that the reform-oriented path the past administration initiated will be consolidated and strengthened by the present government using the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, President Tinubu, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the formal presentation of the book, “According to the President – Lessons from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience,” authored by a seasoned journalist, media strategist and former Presidential Spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, congratulated the author for the important contribution to Nigeria’s democratic literature and public discourse.

He described the event as not merely a celebration of a book but a significant national moment and an opportunity to reflect on the leadership journey embarked upon by “one of Nigeria’s most consequential leaders whose time in office shaped the direction of our country in profound ways.”

The President described the book as “a compelling and sincere documentation of leadership from within through the eyes and experiences of a spokesman who worked at the very heart of power. We are offered a unique, unfiltered and well-considered insight into the decisions, challenges and accomplishments that defined President Buhari’s tenure from 2015 to 2023.”

He stated that Mallam Garba Shehu has done more than tell a story but captured a legacy and put forward a chronicle that provides context and clarity to the policy directions, governing principles and leadership philosophy of a man whose disciplined and unwavering sense of duty left a significant imprint on our nation’s governance architecture.

“Former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, is a man whose leadership stood on the pillars of integrity, accountability, prudence as well as patriotism. Under his stewardship, Nigeria witnessed a decisive push to confront insecurity, a serious commitment to infrastructure renewal, a renewed focus on self-reliance and a clear effort to sanitize the public sector. These themes resonate strongly in this book and must be appreciated in their full historic dimensions.

“From the restoration of fiscal discipline to the diversification of the economy, from the development of critical national infrastructure to the transformation of our rail and road networks, and from the expansion of social investment programmes to the repositioning of the agricultural sector, President Buhari’s era reflected an earnest attempt to reposition Nigeria for future resilience.

“In foreign policy, he was deliberate and consistent. Nigeria’s voice remained steady and respected within the African Union and the international community. Our engagements with global partners were guided by a principled foreign policy doctrine that upheld national interest, regional stability and non-alignment.

“At this juncture, it is also worth commending President Buhari’s humility and restraint in the exercise of Presidential power – hallmarks of democratic maturity. In the face of provocation, he remained calm. In moments of uncertainty, he held steady. His was a Presidency of discipline and quiet strength.

“Nation-building is a relay. The efforts of one administration lays the foundation for the next. In this regard, I acknowledge the efforts of my predecessor, President Buhari, and assure all Nigerians that the reform-oriented path he initiated will be consolidated and strengthened under this administration. Our Renewed Hope Agenda is inspired by the desire to build a resilient, just and inclusive Nigeria – a nation that delivers dividends of democracy to all its citizens,” he assured

The Chief Presenter of the book, Prof. Ibrahim A. Gambari, who was the Chief of Staff to Ex-president Buhari described the book as “a profound act of national documentation, a deliberate and vital effort to imbue our collective consciousness with the intricate operational dynamics of presidential communication and a vital element in the very architecture of democratic governance.

Gambari said the book illuminates key policy thrusts that underscored President Buhari’s transformative legacy, stating that the profound societal impact of the first-of-its-kind Social Investment Program (SIP),  sought to reach “the doorstep of the poor” and improve the quality of life for millions of citizens.

He commended the revolutionary strides in fiscal transparency through mechanisms such as the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Bank Verification Number (BVN), Tax Identification Number (TIN), Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPS), the Whistle Blower policy, and the National Identity Number (NIN) saying that the policies complemented the concerted efforts to strengthen the nation’s security and enhance Nigeria’s stature abroad; and build Africa’s diplomatic institutions and development agencies.

“These initiatives, as Malam Shehu documents, introduced an “unprecedented culture of personal integrity” and set “new benchmarks in transparency”. A particularly insightful contribution of this volume lies in its rigorous analysis of “the greatest challenge that President Buhari faced,” which Malam Shehu identifies as “the perception challenge” and “the tyranny of high expectations.”

He reveals the government’s strategic approach to addressing criticism “in the right spirit” and offers concrete “communication solutions for dealing with such scenarios.”

He called for collective effort in the war against insecurity, warning that the president and even the armed forces cannot do it alone without the cooperation and collaboration of the people

.Ardo  Zubairu 

National Secretary 

TInubu Re- Election Project 2027 . Office Phone: 08098885195

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