Aisha Buhari: Rumours I Planned Buhari’s Death Spread in Aso Rock

Former First Lady Aisha Buhari has revealed that rumours within Aso Rock once caused her husband, the late President Muhammadu Buhari, to fear that she wanted to harm him. She said the gossip led the President to withdraw from her for a short period and disrupted his daily routine, which later affected his health.

Her account is contained in a new biography titled From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, written by Charles Omole. The book, which spans over 600 pages, traces Buhari’s life from his childhood in Daura, Katsina State, to his final days in a London hospital in July 2025.

Aisha Buhari explained that before moving into the Presidential Villa, she closely managed her husband’s meals and supplements. According to her, Buhari had a history of poor nutrition, and keeping to a strict feeding routine helped him stay strong. She said this routine was disrupted after rumours spread in the Villa that she planned to kill him.

As fear grew, Buhari reportedly began to change his habits, including locking his room and missing meals. She stated that his supplements were stopped and his feeding schedule became irregular. Over time, this affected his health and led to a serious condition that required medical attention.

She dismissed claims that Buhari was poisoned or suffered from a mysterious illness. Instead, she linked his 2017 health crisis to poor meal management and the breakdown of the nutrition plan she had long supervised. She added that for about a year, Buhari regularly missed lunch due to poor coordination among aides.

The situation later resulted in Buhari making two long medical trips to the United Kingdom in 2017, where he spent a total of 154 days receiving treatment. During this period, he temporarily handed over power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

In London, doctors placed Buhari on a stronger nutrition plan. Aisha Buhari said she personally ensured he followed it, which led to a quick recovery. Within days, his strength improved, and he was soon able to walk without support and receive visitors.

The book also touched on claims about insecurity and mistrust within the Presidency. Aisha Buhari alleged that there was surveillance around the President, including listening devices, which added to the tension and fear during his time in office. She also dismissed rumours that Buhari had a body double, describing such claims as false and driven by poor communication from the government.

The author noted that Buhari’s decision to seek medical care abroad drew criticism but added that advanced treatment for an elderly person may not have been easily available locally. He also pointed out that Buhari’s practice of handing power to his deputy during absences helped maintain order in government despite his health challenges.