“…It is absolute rubbish, sensationalism by journalists to say that the former SGF downplayed Tinubu’s role in Buhari’s emergence”
By Emmanuel Kwada
A heated political controversy has erupted in Nigeria following remarks made by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, at a book launch in Abuja, prompting a swift defense from former presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu.
Did Boss Mustapha downplay Tinubu’s role in Buhari’s rise to power? Could Buhari have won in 2015 without his support? Here’s how Garba Shehu reacted on #BeyondTheHeadlines . pic.twitter.com/tfmrMrjxfA
— Nifemi Oguntoye🇳🇬 (@nifemioguntoye) July 10, 2025
Garba Shehu, speaking on TVC News’ Beyond the Headlines, described media reports claiming Boss Mustapha downplayed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s role in former President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 electoral victory as “absolute rubbish” and accused journalists of sensationalism.
The remarks have reignited debates about the dynamics of the All Progressives Congress (APC) coalition that secured Nigeria’s historic 2015 election, marking the first time an incumbent president was defeated.
President Buhari’s Contribution to National Development
The controversy unfolded on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, during the public presentation of According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience, a memoir authored by Garba Shehu, who served as Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.
The event, held at the Yar’adua Centre in Abuja, drew prominent political figures, including former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), and other key APC leaders.
Mustapha, delivering a lecture titled “President Buhari’s Contribution to National Development,” sparked debate when he attributed Buhari’s 2015 victory primarily to his pre-existing 12 million-strong voter base from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
He noted that the merger of opposition parties, which birthed the APC, contributed approximately 3.2 million additional votes to the 15.4 million that secured Buhari’s win against then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Garba Shehu, speaking on Beyond The Headlines with Nifemi Oguntoye on TVC News on Thursday evening, July 10, 2025, fiercely defended Mustapha, accusing the media of distorting his remarks for sensational purposes.
“It is absolute rubbish, sensationalism by journalists to say that the former SGF downplayed Tinubu’s role in Buhari’s emergence,” Shehu stated.
He clarified that Mustapha’s comments focused on the statistical breakdown of votes, emphasizing Buhari’s consistent 12 million votes from the North, which had been evident in his unsuccessful 2003, 2007, and 2011 presidential bids under different platforms. Shehu argued that Mustapha acknowledged the broader contributions of the APC merger, which included Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and breakaway PDP members, but stressed that Buhari’s electoral base was the foundation of the victory.
It is absolute rubbish, sensationalism by journalists to say that the former SGF downplayed Tinubu’s role in Buhari’s emergence
“Mustapha did not mention Tinubu by name, and Buhari himself has always said it was the merger that brought them together to win,” Shehu added, dismissing reports as “mischief and sensationalism.”
The APC’s 2015 victory was a landmark in Nigerian politics, driven by a strategic merger of opposition parties, including Tinubu’s ACN, Buhari’s CPC, the ANPP, and factions of APGA and PDP. Official results from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show Buhari polled 15,424,921 votes against Jonathan’s 12,853,162, a margin Mustapha attributed largely to Buhari’s Northern base.
However, analysts argue that Tinubu’s mobilization of resources, legal expertise, and Southwest votes was critical to overcoming Buhari’s previous electoral shortcomings, particularly the constitutional requirement of securing 25% of votes in at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s states.
The book launch also served as a platform to reflect on Buhari’s presidency. Mustapha praised Buhari’s integrity and institutional reforms, such as the Petroleum Industry Act and the National Social Investment Programme, noting that Tinubu’s administration is building on these foundations.
General Yakubu Gowon lauded Buhari’s accessibility and commitment to Nigeria’s unity, while President Tinubu, represented by Senator George Akume, described nation-building as a relay, pledging to consolidate Buhari’s reforms. Shehu, defending his memoir, emphasized its role as a resource for journalists and public servants, urging restraint in polarized political discourse. “Words can easily warp narratives,” he cautioned.
The controversy underscores ongoing tensions within the APC as factions jostle over legacy and influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
We live in a country that forgets too easily. If this book helps preserve our national memory—warts and all—then it has served its purpose
Tinubu loyalists view Mustapha’s remarks as an attempt to diminish the President’s political capital, while Buhari’s allies argue for a balanced recounting of the 2015 victory. As Shehu concluded, “We live in a country that forgets too easily. If this book helps preserve our national memory—warts and all—then it has served its purpose.”
The debate over Tinubu’s role in Buhari’s emergence continues to highlight the complex interplay of loyalty, legacy, and historical narrative in Nigeria’s political landscape, with no resolution in sight as both sides dig in to defend their versions of history.
Read Also: FACT-CHECK: Ex-SGF Boss Mustapha Actually Praises Tinubu’s Role in Buhari’s Presidency
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