Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — Former First Lady Aisha Buhari has publicly dismissed longstanding rumours that the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s extended medical leave in 2017 was caused by poisoning or some mysterious illness, offering a detailed explanation that directly refutes conspiracy theories circulating for years about the circumstances that led to his prolonged absence from office.
In remarks contained in a newly launched 600-page biography titled From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, written by Dr Charles Omole and unveiled at the State House, Aisha Buhari provided insight into the factors she believes triggered her husband’s health crisis and extended medical leave, ultimately dispelling notions of poisoning.
According to Aisha Buhari, the health problems that forced her husband to spend a combined 154 days on medical leave in the United Kingdom in 2017 resulted not from toxic substances or external harm, but from a disruption in his regimented nutrition and feeding routine. She explained that for years she had personally supervised the former president’s diet and supplements, a regimen she said was crucial for maintaining his strength as someone with a history of malnutrition symptoms.
In the biography, Aisha Buhari recounted how rumours circulated within Aso Rock alleging that she intended to harm her husband. The gossip, she said, led to confusion among aides and a subsequent breakdown of the structured feeding plan that had been carefully managed for Buhari’s wellbeing. This break in routine, she argued, was the true catalyst for his deteriorating health and eventual medical leave abroad.
“My husband believed them for a week or so,” she said, referring to the rumours, noting that the disruption of scheduled meals and supplements coincided with the onset of his serious health complications, which necessitated foreign medical treatment. Aisha Buhari emphasised that there was no poisoning or sinister external cause behind the 2017 medical leave, framing it instead as a consequence of loss of nutritional consistency and subsequent weakened health.
In addition to rejecting poisoning narratives, the biographical account underscores how misinformation and internal palace rumours contributed to misunderstanding about Buhari’s condition. By clarifying the context and origins of his health issues, Aisha Buhari’s explanation directly counters a wide range of speculation that has persisted since 2017, including tales suggesting covert plots or hidden causes for the president’s extended absence.
The former president’s extended medical leave was a significant moment in Nigeria’s recent political history, with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo assuming acting presidential duties during Buhari’s prolonged absence. At the time, limited official communication about the precise nature of the illness and the extended UK stay fuelled conspiracy theories and public speculation. Aisha Buhari’s revelations now provide a first-hand account aimed at setting the record straight.
By attributing the health crisis to mismanaged nutrition rather than deliberate poisoning or external interference, Aisha Buhari has sought to correct public misconceptions, emphasising that Buhari’s medical journey stemmed from an internal, albeit unfortunate, breakdown in a routine that had previously supported his wellbeing.
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