Garba Shehu, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has opened up on the perception that his principal helped Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election.
Shehu said that, against such belief, Buhari supported and worked for the emergence of Tinubu in the election.
It could be recalled that during the polls, Buhari encouraged almost all the party’s candidates, numbering about 25 of them, to purchase the nomination form.
There were rumours that he wanted former President Goodluck Jonathan to succeed him. Rumours also had it that he preferred former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, over Tinubu.
Asked to speak on the perception that Buhari worked for Atiku against Tinubu, Shehu told Channels Television, “I must have had a dream. It didn’t happen. I sat with President Tinubu after his victory.
“He told me that President Buhari allowed him to win in a free and fair election. Don’t mind people.
“When people are seeking favours, ingratiating themselves to leaders, they’ll say all manner of things. You expected him to tell people not to run against Tinubu…?”
