Former First Lady Aisha Buhari revealed in her new book, "From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari," that pneumonia was the immediate cause of her husband Muhammadu Buhari's death on July 13, 2025, at age 82 in a London clinic. She firmly dismissed persistent rumors of poisoning, air-conditioning sabotage, or covert plots, stating doctors clearly informed the family of the diagnosis and criticizing such claims as harmful misinformation that fueled public confusion.
Aisha described Buhari's final days, including family members at his bedside, repeated tests, and efforts like adjusting pillows to ease breathing amid his weakened state from age, past smoking, bush warfare exposure, and constant cold. She linked his 2017 health crisis to exhaustion and dietary lapses rather than conspiracy, noting recovery followed restored routines, and addressed post-presidency governance critiques like gatekeeping that hindered access and accountability.
The account counters varied media reports of leukemia or cancer, insisting the official medical verdict was acute pneumonia, especially severe due to his vulnerabilities, while reflecting on a life of service ending quietly after burial in Daura, Katsina. Aisha emphasized her role was oversight, not interference, never involving contracts or documents.