In a revealing account from a new biography, former First Lady Aisha Buhari has detailed how the Presidency's firm management of the late President Muhammadu Buhari's funeral arrangements prevented his relatives and associates from taking over the process.
State Control Prevented Aso Villa Takeover
Aisha Buhari stated that the state's takeover of the burial logistics stopped relatives, wives, and grandchildren who had previously intruded on Aso Villa during her husband's administration. She made these disclosures in the book "From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari," authored by Dr. Charles Omole, which was unveiled at the State House in Abuja on Monday, December 15, 2025.
The former First Lady explained that the Presidency's tight control of arrangements denied what she called "old courtiers" the room to maneuver or inject themselves into the choreography of the burial. She described these individuals as people "without capacity," men she could work with "as a local government chairman," but not as part of a president's core team.
End of an Era for Villa Intruders
According to Aisha's account in the biography, those who once held the levers of access felt their power had vanished with the principal. "Those who once held the levers of access — those old uncles and agile associates — felt that their power had vanished along with the principal. They feared her and her son," the book reports.
Aisha emphasized that the state's management of the burial program saved the nation from another round of embarrassment. "The state's management of the burial logistics both stabilized the ritual and limited opportunities for mischief," she was quoted as saying. She and her son, Yusuf, "did not come to fight," but the presidency's control of arrangements made their intervention unnecessary.
Earlier Revelations of Mistrust and Final Moments
The biography also contains other significant revelations from Aisha Buhari. She disclosed that her husband once believed gossip within Aso Rock that she was planning to kill him. This belief affected how the late president began to treat her at the Presidential Villa.
Regarding Buhari's death, Aisha provided new details about his final moments while dismissing widespread conspiracy theories. She stated that medical experts clearly briefed the family and criticized the rumours as harmful misinformation. She linked Buhari's earlier health challenges to exhaustion and dietary imbalance, while also reflecting on broader governance issues and life after the presidency.
The 600-page biography offers an unprecedented look into the personal and political life of Nigeria's former leader, with insights from his wife of many years. The revelations have sparked discussions about the dynamics within the Presidential Villa and the management of state ceremonies.
