- Aisha Buhari says former president died from pneumonia, not cancer.
- Biography details Buhari’s final days and worsening health after office.
- Family rejects rumours linking his death to lung cancer.
Former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has disclosed that her late husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari, died of pneumonia and not cancer, countering reports that attributed his death to pulmonary lymphoma or leukaemia.
Aisha’s account is contained in a new biography titled From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, written by Dr Charles Omole.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to the book, Buhari’s final days, shortly after completing his eight year tenure as president, were marked by severe health challenges that took an emotional toll on his family.
Recounting the experience, Aisha Buhari said, “The final days were difficult. ICU for some days, then the ward, then the slide. The last three days were the worst.”
The biography stated that Buhari’s health deteriorated significantly in his final year after leaving office, leading to more frequent medical trips abroad.
“After leaving office, in his final year before passing, phone calls increased and transatlantic trips became more frequent,” the book said.
It added that Buhari travelled to the United Kingdom for medical attention, including a dental procedure, while Aisha remained in Abuja briefly to mourn a relative before rejoining him.
Aisha Buhari attributed her husband’s illness to prolonged physical exposure during his military career.
“He had been a soldier in the bush for 30 months, mostly in the South South, soaked by rain in uniforms that dried on his body,” she was quoted as saying.
She noted that age and Buhari’s earlier smoking habit worsened his condition, adding that pneumonia became his final health battle.
Doctors reportedly diagnosed acute pneumonia, a conclusion that raised questions among some observers.
“Pneumonia doesn’t usually kill people,” Aisha said she was told.
She replied, “It can, especially with old age, and perhaps with a lifetime’s exposure to cold and dust in the field. He always coughed, even when he laughed.”
The book described Buhari’s final hours, including moments of prayer, medical tests and family members keeping vigil at his bedside.
Sputum tests reportedly ruled out cancer, reinforcing pneumonia as the official diagnosis communicated to the family.
“At 4 p.m., his breathing changed and then ceased,” the biography stated.
Aisha Buhari insisted that pneumonia, not cancer, was the cause of her husband’s death, as confirmed by doctors.
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