Former First Lady Aisha Buhari has opened a window into the private struggles of her late husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, recounting how gossip within the Presidential Villa once made him believe she intended to poison him.
The startling revelation is contained in a new 600-page biography, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, authored by Dr. Charles Omole and unveiled at the State House on Monday.
According to Mrs. Buhari, the rumors surfaced during Buhari’s severe health crisis in 2017, when he embarked on a 154-day medical leave in the United Kingdom.
She explained that the illness was not the result of poisoning or a mysterious ailment, but rather a breakdown in his nutrition and supplement regimen.
For years, she had personally managed his diet, tailoring meals and vitamins to support his fragile health.
“Then came the gossip and the fearmongering. They said I wanted to kill him,” she recalled. “My husband believed them for a week or so. He began locking his room, changing small habits, and crucially, meals were delayed or missed; the supplements were stopped.”
She added that for nearly a year, Buhari did not eat lunch, a disruption that worsened his condition.
Recovery, Rumors, and Legacy
Mrs. Buhari revealed that once proper supplementation resumed in London, her husband’s recovery was swift. Within three days, he discarded his walking stick, a symbol of renewed strength.
The biography also addresses the climate of mistrust that surrounded the presidency, including allegations of surveillance and conspiracy theories such as the infamous “Jibril of Sudan” body double rumor, which the book firmly debunks.
The 22-chapter work traces journey from his early days in Daura, Katsina State, through his military career, political battles, and eventual presidency, culminating in his death at age 82 in a London hospital in July 2025.
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