Prof. Pate reviews Garba Shehu’s “According to the President”: A masterclass in presidential communication

By Muhammad Uba Sani

Esteemed communication scholar and Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Kashere, Professor Umaru Pate, has described Garba Shehu’s new book “According to the President” as a rare and insightful documentation of presidential communication and leadership in Nigeria’s democratic experience.

Speaking at the official book presentation held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, on Wednesday  where he served as the chief reviewer, Professor Pate praised the author, a veteran journalist and former Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity for undertaking the “ambitious and delicate task of chronicling eight years of governance from the vantage point of a trusted insider.”

According to Professor Pate, the 239-page book, structured into ten chapters, is not just a personal account but a carefully curated political chronicle that blends institutional memory, political storytelling, and strategic communication. “Although the author insists the book is not a memoir, it clearly offers deep insights into the thinking, intent, and actions of the Buhari presidency,” he said.

SolaceBase reports that Pate highlighted how Shehu skillfully drew from presidential speeches, press statements, policy briefings, and behind-the-scenes moments to portray what President Buhari said, meant, and why he acted the way he did on key national issues, ranging from security and anti-corruption to foreign relations and governance reforms.

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He also commended the book’s balanced style, describing it as “a blend of loyalty, restraint, and professional honesty.” He noted that Garba Shehu’s narrative does not seek to glorify or sanitize, but rather to clarify and contextualize, offering readers a better understanding of the often misunderstood corridors of power.

The book’s first chapters trace Shehu’s humble beginnings in Dutse, Jigawa State, through his academic journey from Bayero University, Kano to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His early journalism career at NTA and Triumph Newspapers, as well as his communication work in the private sector, reflect a steady rise through Nigeria’s media landscape.

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A particularly memorable section, according to Professor Pate, recounts a prophetic moment when the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, during a school visit, placed his hand on a young Shehu’s head and declared he would be great, an omen that ultimately foreshadowed Shehu’s significant contributions to national discourse.

“In this book, Garba Shehu offers far more than political storytelling,” Professor Pate said. “He presents a thoughtful commentary on how media, power, and perception shape the legacy of a leader and the destiny of a nation. It is a work that should interest not only journalists and political scientists but also students of history and governance.”

He concluded by recommending “According to the President” as essential reading for anyone seeking to understand presidential communication in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.