Garba Shehu reveals Buhari rejected N10m food budget and N400m car purchase, choosing modest meals and Jonathan\u2019s official vehicles.<\/p>\n
Garba Shehu, the former presidential spokesperson, has said former President Muhammadu Buhari, rejected a proposed N10 million food budget for the State House during his tenure.<\/p>\n
Shehu made the revelation in his memoir titled \u2018According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson\u2019s Experience\u2019, which was launched in Abuja on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The book recounts his eight years of service under Buhari and offers behind-the-scenes insights into governance at the State House.<\/p>\n
According to Shehu, shortly after Buhari assumed office in 2015, he was informed that the State House food budget \u2013 covering meals for the president, vice-president, guest houses, and official banquets \u2013 needed to be increased to N10 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen they told him N10 million was needed, he screamed and demanded it be reduced,\u201d Shehu said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at my table, what do I eat? How much does it cost?\u201d Buhari reportedly asked.<\/p>\n
The former spokesperson described Buhari\u2019s daily meals as \u201csimple\u201d and \u201chealthy\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegarding his simple lifestyle, as president, most of the things he ate were very basic food that is recognisable and associated with and consumed by the lower strata of the Nigerian society: tuwo (dough-like dishes made from grains), pap, akara (bean cake), beans, wheat, plenty of salads, poultry and mutton. He ate healthily,\u201d Shehu added.<\/p>\n
Shehu said shortly after assuming office in 2015, Buhari was briefed by the Permanent Secretary at the State House, Nebolisa Emodi, that N400 million had been released to purchase five customised Mercedes-Benz vehicles.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe proposal to buy the vehicles had been made at the twilight of President Jonathan\u2019s administration,\u201d Shehu wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Buhari asked, \u2018What is wrong with the cars left behind by the former president?\u2019 and added, \u2018They are all right for my use.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Shehu noted that Buhari declined the purchase and directed Emodi to cut down operating costs at the Presidential Villa and strengthen internal financial controls.<\/p>\n
He said Buhari continued using the vehicles left behind by Jonathan, only switching after one broke down on the way to the airport.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe instructed that all State House expenses must stay within the approved budget and that reliance on the so-called Presidential Intervention Funds must end,\u201d Shehu said.<\/p>\n
Shehu also said Buhari spent the early months of his administration consulting with permanent secretaries and heads of agencies to understand the challenges facing the country. This, he noted, contributed to the delay in appointing ministers \u2013 a move that drew criticism at the time.<\/p>\n
In one anecdote, Shehu said during one of Buhari\u2019s medical trips, when Yemi Osinbajo was acting president, some officials \u2013 not Osinbajo \u2013 approached Abba Kyari, the late chief of staff, about a security vote.<\/p>\n
\u201cMalam Abba told them that the president kept nothing to that effect,\u201d Shehu wrote, emphasising Buhari\u2019s tight control over public funds.<\/p>\n
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