Garba Shehu: I Lied About Villa Rats to Hide Buhari’s Sickness

According to a NewsVista reporter, former presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu has revealed that the infamous “rat invasion” story at Aso Rock was a calculated lie — crafted to cover up President Muhammadu Buhari’s serious health condition.

Shehu made the shocking confession in his new book, “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience,” launched in Abuja on July 7, 2025.

Back in 2017, Buhari had just returned from a three-month medical trip to the UK, and Nigerians were questioning why he would resume work from home. That’s when Shehu told the media rats had damaged cables in the president’s office.

Now, years later, he admits: “I made it up. I wanted to shift the conversation away from the president’s health. And I believe the spin worked.”

In the book, he also recalled being confronted by Lai Mohammed and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who disagreed with his tactics. But Shehu stood by his decision, saying it successfully distracted Nigerians from deeper concerns about Buhari’s capacity to govern.

The revelation comes amid fresh reports that Buhari spent several days in a London ICU during his presidency — a fact that was never publicly acknowledged at the time.