In a political culture where loyalty is often traded for convenience and allegiance bends with the wind of power, Mallam Garba Shehu stands as a quiet contradiction – a man who has mastered the art of service without servitude, and loyalty without sycophancy.
On Wednesday, long after he left the presidential stage, Garba Shehu once again drew national attention – not with press releases or soundbites, but with the gravity of his person. The occasion was the launch of his new book, “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience”. But more remarkable than the pages he unveiled was the gathering of Nigeria’s most respected names who came to honour him.
There they were: former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former vice president, Babagana Kingibe, immediate past vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, media czar Nduka Obaigbena, business magnate, Allen Onyema, and many more – political titans, business giants, royal figures, and media moguls, all seated under one roof. It was less a book launch and more a tribute to a man who, over the years, has shown that one can navigate Nigeria’s stormy political waters and still emerge with clean hands and enduring friendships.
This convergence was not engineered by proximity to power or manipulation of influence. It was organic, sincere, and symbolic. It was, in fact, a reward for years of discretion, humility, competence -and most of all, loyalty. In a country where shifting loyalties are almost a rite of passage, Garba Shehu offers a refreshing departure from the norm.
He once served as spokesperson to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a man whose political trajectory later stood in opposition to Muhammadu Buhari – the very man Garba Shehu would later speak for as senior special assistant on Media and Publicity. Incredibly, not once did Garba Shehu exploit his new perch to denigrate his former boss. He took no verbal swipes. There were no betrayals. No subtle digs. In a political theatre infamous for public mudslinging and character assassination, this restraint speaks volumes. It is not just political maturity – it is personal integrity.
That ability to maintain bridges, even when paths diverge, is what defines Garba Shehu’s character. While many operate in silos, burning connections in the name of loyalty to the present, Shehu has built a legacy on remembering yesterday, honouring today, and preparing for tomorrow. It is a stoicism that many mistake for silence, but which in reality is rooted in strategic wisdom.
Perhaps what makes Shehu’s legacy even more compelling is his behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Many predicted internal clashes when he and Femi Adesina were tasked with managing Buhari’s public communications. Two men. One president. A thousand narratives. Yet, no public feud, no leaks, no turf wars. What we saw instead was synergy – mutual respect and a shared sense of duty. Today, their relationship endures beyond office, a testament to how public service, when done with honour, can leave no residue of bitterness.
It is also said that Garba Shehu is an exceptional team player. Those who have worked with him tell stories of a man who respects boundaries, empowers colleagues, and understands the weight of responsibility that comes with proximity to power. He does not weaponise access. He does not court controversy. He listens more than he speaks, but when he speaks, he does so with precision and purpose.
In writing “According to the President”, Garba Shehu has done more than just pen a memoir. He has offered Nigeria a study in emotional intelligence, restraint, and enduring loyalty. The book is a window into his professional life, but the event itself was a mirror reflecting the kind of man he is: respected by friends, admired by foes, and trusted by all.
In these times – where politics has become a game of betrayal and bitterness – Garba Shehu reminds us that it is still possible to serve without selling one’s soul, to speak for power without silencing conscience, and to rise in relevance without falling in honour.
History often remembers presidents and powerbrokers. But every now and then, it pauses for the men behind the microphones, the quiet custodians of narrative, the guardians of presidential silence – and loyalty.
Garba Shehu is one of them. And if Nigeria is ever to regain a moral compass in its public service, it must look to men like him not just for what they did, but for how they did it.
