In a significant revelation that puts years of speculation to rest, Aisha Buhari, the widow of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has publicly addressed and dismissed the persistent rumour that her husband was poisoned while in office.
The Official Clarification from the Former First Lady
Aisha Buhari stated that the severe health challenges which led to the late president's 154 days of medical leave outside Nigeria in 2017 were not due to any mysterious ailment or act of poisoning. Instead, she attributed the crisis to a broken routine and mismanaged nutrition. This clarification was made during the launch of a new biography detailing Buhari's life and presidency.
The former first lady's comments were captured in a 600-page biography titled 'From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari', authored by Dr. Charles Omole. The book was officially presented at the State House in Abuja on Monday, December 15, 2025.
Inside the Definitive Biography
The comprehensive 22-chapter work documents the life of Muhammadu Buhari from his early days in Daura, Katsina State, to his final moments in a London hospital in July 2025. More than just a life story, the biography is said to provide answers to ten critical and trending questions that arose during his administration.
The key questions addressed in the book include:
- The true nature of Buhari's illness during 2017-2018.
- The internal intrigues behind the dismissal of Lawal Daura as DSS boss.
- The role and influence of the so-called 'Cabal' in shaping the presidency.
- Allegations of forged signatures and bugged offices.
- Buhari's instructions during the EndSARS protests.
- The circumstances surrounding his death in July 2025.
Putting Rumours to Rest
For years, the Nigerian public and political circles were rife with theories about the former president's prolonged absence for medical treatment. The poisoning narrative gained significant traction, fuelling political tension and speculation about internal sabotage within the presidency.
By directly attributing the health breakdown to lifestyle and nutritional mismanagement, Aisha Buhari's account, as presented in the authorised biography, offers a definitive counter-narrative. This revelation is likely to reshape the historical understanding of one of the most controversial periods of Buhari's two-term administration, moving the discourse from conspiracy to documented personal history.
The launch of the biography and the revelations within mark a pivotal moment in providing an official record, aiming to clarify the legacy of Nigeria's former leader and address the unanswered questions that defined his time in office.
