A major controversy has erupted in Nigeria's political space following revelations made by former First Lady, Dr. Aisha Buhari, in a newly published biography of her late husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari. The book, which details internal tensions and governance challenges, has drawn sharp criticism from senior political figures and the public, who deem the disclosures ill-timed and damaging.
Book Launch and Explosive Claims
The biography, titled From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, was authored by Dr. Charles Omole and officially unveiled on 25 December 2025. The launch event took place at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, with President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in attendance alongside other dignitaries.
In the book, Aisha Buhari makes several pointed claims about her husband's eight-year administration. She alleges that a powerful cabal within Aso Rock, comprising relatives and close associates, attempted to edge her and her children out of the Presidential Villa. She is quoted as saying, "They tried to push everybody out, including me. This is my house... you cannot be in charge of my husband’s office and then also be in charge of me, his wife, inside my house."
Furthermore, she identified a key weakness of the Buhari presidency as the failure to remove non-performing officials. According to her, the late president was often reluctant to sack underperforming appointees due to sympathy, fear of being labelled authoritarian, and manipulation by aides. She recounted Buhari saying, "If I remove him, they will say I am this and that," a mindset she argued shielded mediocrity.
Political and Public Backlash Intensifies
The revelations have triggered a wave of condemnation. Critics argue that airing such grievances after the president's death is unfair, as he is no longer alive to offer his side of the story. They warn that personal narratives risk distorting the historical assessment of his tenure.
Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, publicly urged restraint, cautioning against exploiting the memory of a deceased leader and warning that reopening internal disputes could deepen national divisions.
Similarly, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, criticized the trend of posthumous accusations. He emphasized that death should impose moral restraint and that private family disputes should not become public indictments when rebuttal is impossible.
The commentary platform, Haruspice, noted that the lived experiences of Nigerians under Buhari's administration already form a solid record, independent of insider accounts. The controversy also drew comparisons to past First Ladies like Turai Yar'Adua and Mariam Abacha, who, despite allegations of influence, did not publicly indict their spouses after their deaths.
Social Media Firestorm and Personal Dimensions
The discourse gained additional emotional intensity from a widely circulated Instagram post attributed to one of the Indimi daughters, further fueling debates about family loyalty and propriety. Across platforms like X, Facebook, and WhatsApp, public sentiment has been largely critical.
Many Nigerians view the biography as an attempt to reopen settled questions and reassign blame rather than contribute to meaningful reflection or closure. The overarching sentiment is that the timing and nature of the revelations have cast a shadow over the late president's legacy, turning a moment for historical review into a public relations crisis for his family and associates.
The fallout from the book's launch continues to dominate political conversation, highlighting the delicate balance between historical transparency and posthumous respect for a former head of state.
