By Huldah Shado
Former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has said the health crisis that kept her late husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, away from office for 154 days in 2017 was caused by a disruption in his feeding and nutrition routine, not poisoning or any mysterious illness.
The revelation is contained in a new 600-page biography, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, written by Dr Charles Omole and launched on Monday at the State House, Abuja.
According to the book, Mrs Buhari had long supervised her husband’s meals and supplements, describing him as “a slender man with a long history of malnutrition symptoms.”
She said the routine was disrupted after they moved from Kaduna to the Presidential Villa, triggering the health crisis.
“Elderly bodies require gentle, consistent support. He doesn’t have a chronic illness. Keep him on schedule,” she was quoted as saying.
The author dismissed claims that Buhari’s medical trips to the United Kingdom reflected a failure of Nigeria’s healthcare system, noting that a man in his 70s could require specialised care not readily available locally.
He also noted that Buhari consistently handed over power to his deputy during medical absences, preserving institutional order.
The biography further reveals claims by Mrs Buhari of surveillance and mistrust within the Presidency, which she said contributed to a tense atmosphere around her husband.
She also dismissed rumours that Buhari was replaced by a body double, describing them as false and a product of weak government communication.
The book presentation in Abuja drew political leaders, family members and associates, offering fresh insight into Buhari’s health challenges, presidency and final days.
