Former First Lady Aisha Buhari has revealed that rumours within Aso Rock created fear and mistrust around late President Muhammadu Buhari, leading him to alter his daily routine in ways that contributed to the serious health crisis he suffered in 2017.
Her account is contained in a new biography titled From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, authored by Dr. Charles Omole and launched at the State House on Monday.
How Aso Rock Rumours Affected Buhari’s Behaviour
According to the book, gossip within the Presidential Villa suggested that Aisha Buhari intended to harm her husband claims she described as baseless and damaging.
Buhari Began Locking His Room
Aisha Buhari said the rumours unsettled the President, causing him to believe the claims briefly.
“They said I wanted to kill him,” she was quoted as saying.
She disclosed that Buhari began locking his room, changing long-standing habits, and limiting interaction with those around him.
Crucially, she said these changes disrupted his feeding routine.
Buhari’s Feeding Routine Before Aso Villa
Nutrition Managed by Aisha Buhari
The biography describes Buhari as a slender man with a long history of nutrition-related health challenges, whose wellbeing depended on a strict and consistent feeding schedule.
Aisha Buhari said she personally supervised his meals and supplements, which included:
Timed meals
Vitamin powders
Nutritional oils
Protein portions
Carefully adjusted cereals
“Elderly bodies require gentle, consistent support,” she said, adding that Buhari did not suffer from a chronic illness as long as his routine was maintained.
Breakdown of Routine Inside the Presidential Villa
Missed Meals and Stopped Supplements
After moving into Aso Villa, Aisha Buhari convened a meeting with key officials including the President’s physician, security chiefs, and household staff to explain the feeding plan.
Despite this, she said the routine eventually collapsed.
“Meals were delayed or missed; the supplements were stopped,” she recalled.
She revealed that Buhari went nearly a year without eating lunch, blaming poor coordination and mismanagement by those responsible for his care.
2017 Health Crisis and Medical Leave
154 Days of Treatment in the UK
The disruption in Buhari’s routine culminated in a major health crisis that forced him to travel to the United Kingdom twice in 2017, spending a total of 154 days on medical leave.
During his absence, Buhari temporarily transferred power to then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
On his return, Buhari publicly admitted that he had been “never so ill” and confirmed receiving blood transfusions during treatment.
Aisha Buhari Rejects Poisoning Claims
“Loss of Routine Was the Genesis”
Aisha Buhari dismissed long-standing claims that her husband was poisoned, insisting that the illness stemmed from disrupted nutrition rather than any sinister plot.
“Loss of a routine — my nutrition — was the genesis of the crisis,” she said.
Recovery in London
Aisha Buhari Took Charge of His Care
According to the biography, doctors in London prescribed a more intensive supplement regimen.
Initially hesitant, Buhari reportedly struggled to follow it until Aisha Buhari intervened, ensuring the supplements were taken regularly by mixing them into his meals.
The improvement was rapid.
“After just three days, he no longer needed a walking stick. After a week, he was receiving visitors,” she said.
She described this period as both the origin and reversal of his illness.
Buhari’s Use of UK Hospitals and Institutional Conduct
Author Urges Compassionate View
Addressing criticism over Buhari’s reliance on UK hospitals, Omole argued that age and years of accumulated health challenges justified the need for specialised care not readily available in Nigeria.
He also noted that Buhari’s consistent handover of power during medical absences reflected respect for institutional order and governance norms.
Climate of Fear and Mistrust in the Presidency
Allegations of Surveillance
The book further details Aisha Buhari’s claims of deep mistrust within the Presidency.
She alleged that the President’s office was bugged, private conversations were monitored, and playback devices were used, an environment she said contributed to constant fear and anxiety.
Aisha Buhari Dismisses ‘Jibril of Sudan’ Claim
Finally, the former First Lady dismissed rumours that Buhari was replaced by a body double known as “Jibril of Sudan.”
She described the claim as absurd and blamed poor communication by government officials for allowing ordinary developments to evolve into widespread conspiracy theories.
