Former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has recounted a troubling period during her husband’s presidency, revealing that rumours within the Presidential Villa once made late President Muhammadu Buhari believe she was plotting to kill him.
Her account is contained in a newly released biography titled From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, written by Dr. Charles Omole and unveiled on Monday at the State House. The 600-page book traces Buhari’s journey from his childhood in Daura, Katsina State, to his final moments in a London hospital in July 2025.
According to the biography, Aisha Buhari said the gossip and fear-mongering in Aso Rock deeply affected her husband, to the point that he reportedly began locking his bedroom door and altering his daily habits for a short period.
She also addressed the long-standing mystery surrounding Buhari’s prolonged illness in 2017, insisting it was neither the result of poisoning nor a strange medical condition. Instead, she attributed the health crisis to disruptions in his feeding routine and poor nutritional management after they moved into the Presidential Villa.
Aisha Buhari explained that she had always closely supervised her husband’s diet and supplements, maintaining a strict schedule that helped him stay strong despite what she described as a lifelong struggle with malnutrition-related symptoms.
She stressed that Buhari did not suffer from any chronic illness, but that consistency in meals and supplements was essential for his wellbeing, especially given his age.
The book notes that before relocating to Aso Rock, Buhari followed a carefully structured nutrition plan in Kaduna. Once in the Villa, however, that routine was gradually abandoned.
In response, the former First Lady said she convened a meeting involving key aides, including Buhari’s personal physician, the Chief Security Officer, the housekeeper and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, to outline a detailed feeding and supplement plan tailored to his needs.
The regimen involved meals and supplements taken at specific times daily, with measured portions of vitamins, oils, proteins and cereals designed to support an ageing body.
However, the arrangement soon broke down. According to Aisha Buhari, rumours began circulating that she intended to harm the President. She said Buhari believed the claims briefly, leading to increased suspicion and changes in his routine.
As a result, meals were skipped or delayed, supplements were discontinued, and for nearly a year, Buhari reportedly stopped eating lunch altogether. She said this mismanagement of his nutrition marked the beginning of his physical decline.
The situation eventually led to Buhari’s two extended medical trips to the United Kingdom in 2017, during which he spent a combined total of 154 days abroad and temporarily handed over power to then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
After returning to Nigeria, Buhari publicly admitted that he had never been so ill in his life and disclosed that he had received blood transfusions during treatment.
The lengthy absences fueled widespread speculation, rumours and conspiracy theories about his health, including claims of poisoning and even suggestions that he had been replaced by a body double.
Aisha Buhari dismissed these narratives, maintaining that the real cause of the illness was the breakdown of his long-established nutrition routine.
While in London, doctors reportedly prescribed an even more intensive supplement regimen. Initially, Buhari was hesitant and fearful about taking the medications, prompting his wife to step in again to manage his care directly.
According to the book, she discreetly mixed hospital-issued supplements into his drinks and meals. She described the recovery as rapid, saying that within days he abandoned the walking aid he had been using and soon began receiving visitors.
She described this moment as both the origin of the illness and the turning point in his recovery.
Dr. Omole also addressed criticism over Buhari’s reliance on foreign medical care, arguing that a more empathetic view recognises the reality of ageing and the limitations of Nigeria’s healthcare system after decades of underfunding.
He further highlighted Buhari’s decision to consistently transfer authority to his deputy during medical absences as evidence of respect for constitutional order, even amid personal health challenges.
The book also paints a picture of deep mistrust within the Presidency. Aisha Buhari alleged that the environment was marked by surveillance, including claims that the President’s office was bugged and private conversations were monitored and replayed. She suggested that fear and psychological pressure contributed significantly to the strain Buhari endured.
Finally, she dismissed the widely circulated claim that Buhari had a body double, popularly referred to as “Jibril of Sudan,” describing it as nonsense. She argued that poor communication by government officials allowed harmless developments to spiral into damaging conspiracy theories.
