Aisha Buhari Reveals Why Late President Buhari Rarely Sacked Aides
Former First Lady Aisha Buhari has shed light on why her late husband, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, seldom dismissed underperforming aides and sometimes intervened on behalf of allies facing investigations.
Her account appears in a new 600-page biography, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, authored by Dr. Charles Omole and launched at the State House, Abuja, on Monday.
“When asked to step aside for investigations, Buhari pleaded with the new government on behalf of his kinsmen, seeking to shield them from inquiry because he still depended on them for many personal matters,” the book states, covering Buhari’s life from his early days in Daura, Katsina State, to his final hours in a London hospital in July 2025.
Aisha Buhari said the central question of her husband’s presidency was: why were ministers and service chiefs who failed to deliver rarely replaced? She gave two explanations: advancing age and a fear of being labelled a “dictator,” which made him cautious about acting ruthlessly.
“As you age, performance changes,” she explained. Buhari reportedly feared the stigma, saying, “If I remove him, they will say I am this and that. The devil you know,” according to the book.
She noted that some aides exploited this hesitation, often using cautionary clichés to reinforce his reluctance. “Even if a man ‘eats,’ if he can still deliver 50 per cent, keep him; But if he both eats and cannot perform, then he must go,” she said.
Omole added that Aisha Buhari’s perspective complements the family’s view that Buhari’s reluctance to sack aides was a government flaw, though one mitigated by the cabal’s emotional manipulation.
Several senior officials from the Buhari era have faced scrutiny since 2023.
Former Accountant-General Ahmed Idris is being tried for an alleged N109bn fraud, while former Power Minister Saleh Mamman was arrested over a N22bn alleged diversion related to Zungeru/Mambilla projects.
Ex-Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika faces charges linked to Nigeria Air contracts worth around N2.7bn.
Other officials under investigation include former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq over N37.1bn in social-intervention funds, ex-NSIPA DG Halima Shehu for N44bn, and former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami for his handling of contentious Paris-Club consultant claims of $418m. Malami has denied wrongdoing.
Aisha Buhari said her late husband protected individuals who should have faced scrutiny, describing them as close, greedy, and enjoying a degree of immunity.
She also recounted that after leaving office, when prosecutions were being considered, she was urged to return to Daura but refused, citing a lack of interest in confronting those she called “illiterate in their maturity.”
The book reveals that when some allies were asked to step aside for investigation, Buhari personally intervened to protect them due to ongoing personal dependencies.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
