Aisha Buhari Reveals Late President Briefly Believed Villa Rumours She Wanted Him Dead
By Enemona Samuel Endurance
Former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has revealed that her late husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari, once briefly believed rumours circulating within the Presidential Villa that she intended to poison him.
The disclosure is contained in a newly released biography titled From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, written by Dr. Charles Omole and unveiled at the State House on Monday.
According to excerpts from the 600-page book, the rumour temporarily affected the former president’s behaviour, leading him to isolate himself and alter his daily routines.
Mrs. Buhari narrated that during the period, Buhari reportedly began locking his room and distancing himself due to fear generated by what she described as “gossip and fearmongering” within the Aso Rock environment.
“They said I wanted to kill him,” the book quoted her as saying.
She added that the former president believed the allegations for a short period, a situation that significantly disrupted his nutrition and medication routine.
The biography further explains that Buhari’s prolonged health crisis in 2017, which resulted in a 154-day medical leave in the United Kingdom, was not caused by poisoning or any mysterious ailment, as widely speculated at the time.
Rather, Mrs. Buhari stated that the illness stemmed from missed meals and discontinued supplements, which she had personally managed for years to support his health.
“For nearly a year, he did not have lunch. His meals were delayed or skipped, and the supplements were stopped,” she said.
She noted that once proper dietary management and supplementation resumed during his medical treatment in London, Buhari’s recovery was rapid.
According to the account, the former president abandoned his walking stick within three days of resuming the routine.
The book also addresses internal mistrust within the Presidential Villa, including claims of surveillance and conspiracy theories that once trended publicly, such as the allegation that Buhari had been replaced by a body double popularly referred to as “Jibril of Sudan.”
Spanning 22 chapters, the biography documents Buhari’s life journey from his childhood in Daura, Katsina State, through his military and political career, to his death in a London hospital in July 2025 at the age of 82.
As of the time of publication, neither the Presidency nor members of Buhari’s immediate family have issued additional public comments beyond the disclosures contained in the book.
