Garba Shehu, former Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed that the viral “Presidential Villa rat invasion” story in 2017 was a deliberate distraction to shift attention from Buhari’s health condition.
Shehu made the revelation in his newly launched memoir, “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience”, presented in Abuja on Tuesday, July 9, 2025.
Background: Buhari’s Health Crisis and Clone Allegations
President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Nigeria on August 19, 2017, after spending nearly three months in the United Kingdom receiving medical treatment. Before his return, Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had alleged that Buhari had died and been replaced by a clone named Jibrin from Sudan.
The conspiracy gained traction after the Presidency announced that Buhari would be working from home instead of his official office, raising more suspicions about his health and identity.
Chapter 10: “Rats, Spin and All That”
In Chapter 10 of the book, Shehu narrated how the infamous “rat invasion” spin came about:
“In a conversation with the Chief of Staff and other officials, someone speculated that rats may have damaged a cable in the President’s office due to the long period of disuse. When the media pressure intensified over why Buhari wasn’t working from his office, I told reporters that the office needed renovation because rats may have damaged some cables.”
He said the story caught fire globally, even making the BBC World News top five stories at the time.
The Power of Political Spin
According to Shehu, the rat story achieved its main goal: to divert media and public attention from Buhari’s fitness to govern.
“To get journalists off my back, I added spice by referencing the strange rats that came with the rice armada of the 1980s — rats so destructive they could eat anything,” he wrote.
However, not everyone bought the story. Critics accused the Presidency of covering up the President’s true health status, while others mocked the bizarre explanation.
Lai Mohammed and Osinbajo Reacted
Shehu also revealed that then-Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were unhappy with the media spin.
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“They both disagreed with my strategy, saying it was off the mark. But in my view, it worked — the national conversation shifted away from Buhari’s health,” Shehu said.
Conclusion: The Spin That Shaped the Narrative
The Villa rat story remains one of the most memorable episodes of Buhari’s presidency — not because it was true, but because of how it shaped public discourse.
With Shehu’s confession, Nigerians now have a clearer picture of how political communication, media manipulation, and narrative control are used at the highest level of government to protect a leader’s image, even with rats.
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