Former First Lady Aisha Buhari has finally shared her personal reaction to the controversial "other room" comment made by her late husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a joke told on the wrong platform.
The Infamous Remark and Aisha's Candid Response
The incident dates back to October 2016 in Berlin, Germany, following a press conference alongside then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel. President Buhari, responding to criticism from his wife about his government in a prior BBC Hausa interview, stated, "I don't know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room."
In a new 600-page biography titled 'From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari' by Dr. Charles Omole, Aisha Buhari addresses the remark that sparked national and international discourse. "We joked about it," she is quoted as saying. However, she pointedly added that while it was a private jest between them, it was delivered on "the wrong stage."
The author, Omole, notes that Aisha treated the global fallout from the comment "with the shrug of someone who knows the man and the soldier's habit of gallows humour." The biography was officially unveiled at the State House in Abuja on Monday, December 15, 2025.
Broader Revelations from the Presidential Biography
The book serves as a comprehensive look into the life and tenure of the former president, pulling back the curtain on several private and political moments. Beyond the "other room" anecdote, Aisha Buhari disclosed a startling episode where President Buhari once believed gossip within Aso Rock that she was planning to kill him.
She revealed how this rumor affected their relationship and how the late president began to treat her differently at the Presidential Villa as a result. These intimate disclosures provide a rare glimpse into the complexities of life at the highest level of Nigerian power.
Addressing Conspiracy Theories and Final Moments
In related revelations covered by the biography, the former First Lady also addressed the circumstances surrounding President Buhari's death. She dismissed widespread conspiracy theories, stating that medical experts clearly briefed the family and labeling harmful rumors as misinformation.
Aisha Buhari linked her husband's earlier health challenges to factors like exhaustion and dietary imbalance. She also reflected on broader governance issues and their life after the presidency, offering her perspective on decisions such as the naira redesign and the non-endorsement of a successor.
The biography, through these personal accounts from Aisha Buhari and other sources, aims to paint a fuller picture of Muhammadu Buhari, moving beyond his public persona to explore the man, his leadership, and his legacy.
