In a candid revelation, former First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari, has publicly stated that she has no intention of entering into another marriage following the death of her husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari. She describes this significant personal decision as a matter of practicality rather than one dictated by societal morals or cultural pressure.
A Pragmatic Choice Detailed in New Biography
Her position is formally presented in a newly released biography titled 'From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari'. The book, authored by Dr. Charles Omole, was officially unveiled at the State House in Abuja on Monday, December 15, 2025.
The biography portrays Aisha Buhari's choice as calm, deliberate, and shaped by considerations of her age, family responsibilities, and a desire for personal balance after decades in the intense public spotlight. "She will not remarry, she says, almost with a shrug," Dr. Omole wrote, capturing her demeanor.
He further elaborated, "It is not a moral pronouncement so much as a pragmatic one: she has grandchildren; one husband was enough." This stance is noted as a refusal to conform to the extreme narratives often imposed on widows, where remarriage is seen either as betrayal or saintliness.
Focus on Family, Philanthropy, and a Quieter Future
According to the biography, the former First Lady plans to scale back her public visibility while remaining actively engaged in areas close to her heart. Her future focus will revolve around several key pillars:
- Family Life: Doting on her grandchildren to ensure they remember her as a hands-on presence in their lives, not just a public figure.
- Philanthropy and Travel: Holidaying with friends and continuing her leadership roles.
- Foundation Work: Overseeing the Aisha Buhari Foundation and a cardiovascular and medical centre in Kano, which the book notes has completed over two hundred medical procedures.
"Her plans are domestic and cosmopolitan at once," the author wrote, indicating a blend of private family time and continued, though less public, societal engagement.
Reflections on Life as First Lady and Dispelling Rumours
The 22-chapter biography, which traces President Buhari's life from his childhood in Daura, Katsina State, to his death in a London hospital in July 2025, also includes Aisha Buhari's reflections on her years in the presidential villa. It describes her marriage as both "a refuge and a trial," noting that her outspoken nature often attracted backlash.
The couple, who were married for 35 years after their union on December 2, 1989, had five children together. In a related clarification from the book, Aisha Buhari also dispelled the long-standing rumour that her husband was poisoned during his tenure, attributing his 2017 health challenges to a broken routine and mismanaged nutrition.
Dr. Omole framed her decision not to remarry as a conscious withdrawal from the intensity of national politics. "If the republic expects a politics of eternal return, she offers a politics of departure instead: let others take the stage; let the house heal," he concluded, signaling her intent to embrace a new, more private chapter of life.
