- The Ratgate Scandal: How a simple rat story turned into a national distraction.
- Buhari’s Health: What the government was really trying to hide.
- The Spokesman’s Confession: Why he decided to reveal the truth now.
- Public Reaction: How Nigerians reacted to the initial story and what they might think now.
The Rat Invasion That Never Was?
Remember back in 2017 when news broke that rats had invaded President Buhari’s office, forcing him to work from home? It seemed bizarre, right? Well, according to Garba Shehu, Buhari’s former spokesperson, it was all a carefully crafted tale to divert attention from the real issue: the president’s health.
Shehu makes this claim in his new book, “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience.” In a chapter titled “Rats, Spin and All That,” he details how the story was cooked up during a time of intense public and media scrutiny.
The President’s Health Takes Center Stage
After an extended medical stay in the UK, President Buhari returned to Nigeria on August 19, 2017. But instead of returning to his official office, the Presidency announced he’d be working from home. This sparked a wave of speculation, fueled by online rumors – including a wild theory that Buhari had been replaced by a body double named “Jibrin from Sudan,” pushed by IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. Imagine that!
How the Lie Was Born
Shehu recalls overhearing a conversation about a damaged cable in the Chief of Staff’s office. Someone jokingly suggested rats might be the culprit, given the office hadn’t been used in months. This offhand comment became the seed of the now-infamous rat story.
“When the surge in calls for explanation of why the president would be working from home… came, I said to the reporters that the office, which had been in disuse, needed renovation because rats may have eaten and damaged some cables,” Shehu admitted. He knew it wasn’t the truth, but it served its purpose.
The story exploded. News outlets both in Nigeria and internationally (like the BBC) ran with it. Shehu even joked about the “strange rats that invaded the country in the 1980s during the rice armada” to deflect criticism. Some people laughed, but many suspected a cover-up.
Changing the Narrative
Shehu’s goal was simple: “I wanted the discussion to shift, to move to any other issue besides the president’s health and his ability to continue in office.”
Not Everyone Was on Board
The plan wasn’t universally embraced within the administration. Shehu recalls being questioned by then-Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who both expressed their disagreement with the story.
Buhari’s Private Persona
In his book, Shehu also addresses the perception that Buhari was detached from national issues. He argues that the former president was actually very well-informed, starting his day by reading multiple newspapers and staying updated via radio and television. A driver even regularly brought papers from Kano to Daura just for him!
Despite his interest in current affairs, Buhari apparently disliked public exposure. “Even then, he had a disdain for public exposure, or, perhaps, the camera — still and motion,” Shehu wrote.
What Does It All Mean?
Whether you believe the rat story or think it was a cover-up, one thing is clear: it sparked a national conversation. And now, with Shehu’s confession, the debate is sure to reignite. Was it a clever PR move, or a blatant attempt to deceive the public? You decide!