By Erewunmi Peace

Former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has revealed how rumours and internal gossip within the Presidential Villa affected the health and wellbeing of her late husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari, during his time in office.

Aisha Buhari made the disclosure in a recently launched biography titled From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, where she recounted the challenges faced during the former president’s prolonged illness in 2017.

According to her, persistent rumours within Aso Rock created mistrust and tension, leading Buhari to withdraw and alter his routine, including his feeding habits. She described the former president as naturally slender and said irregular meals and lack of nutritional consistency worsened his condition at the time.

The former First Lady noted that misinformation circulating within the presidential environment made her husband suspicious of those closest to him, which further disrupted his care and recovery process.

She stressed the importance of proper nutrition, consistency, and emotional support, especially for leaders under immense pressure, adding that internal divisions and gossip can have serious consequences.

Buhari was away from the country for 154 days in 2017 receiving medical treatment in the United Kingdom, sparking widespread public concern about his health and leadership capacity at the time.

Aisha Buhari’s account offers new insight into the personal struggles behind the scenes of governance and highlights the impact of internal politics on leadership and health.