General News
FORMER FIRST LADY AISHA BUHARI REVEALS HOW RUMORS OF ASSASSINATION PLOT AND BROKEN NUTRITION ROUTINE LED TO PRESIDENT’S HEALTH CRISIS
In a startling revelation, former First Lady Aisha Buhari has disclosed that late President Muhammadu Buhari once grew suspicious and fearful of her after rumors circulated within Aso Rock that she was plotting to kill him. This alleged suspicion led the President to begin locking his room. The account is detailed in a newly released 600-page biography, “From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari,” written by Dr. Charles Omole and unveiled at the State House on Monday.
According to the book, Mrs. Buhari also clarified that the prolonged illness which forced President Buhari into 154 days of medical leave in 2017 was not due to poisoning or a mysterious disease. Instead, she insisted it was triggered by disruptions to his long-established feeding routine and poor nutritional management. “According to Aisha Buhari, her husband’s 2017 health crisis did not originate as a mysterious ailment or a covert plot. It started, she says, with the loss of a routine; ‘my nutrition,’ she describes it,” the biography states.
Mrs. Buhari explained that for years she had personally supervised the President’s meals and supplements at fixed intervals, a routine she said helped “a slender man with a long history of malnutrition symptoms” remain strong. “Elderly bodies require gentle, consistent support,” she recalled telling aides, adding, “He doesn’t have a chronic illness. Keep him on schedule.”
She reportedly convened a meeting with key aides to outline the nutrition plan. “Daily, cups and bowls with tailored vitamin powders and oils, a touch of protein here, a change to cereals there,” she explained. However, the routine soon collapsed amid a climate of mistrust. “Then came the gossip and the fearmongering. They said I wanted to kill him,” the book quotes her as saying. “My husband believed them for a week or so,” she revealed, noting that Buhari began locking his room, altered his daily habits, and most critically, “meals were delayed or missed; the supplements were stopped.” She added, “For a year, he did not have lunch. They mismanaged his meals.”
This decline led to two lengthy medical visits to the United Kingdom in 2017. After his recovery, Buhari admitted he had “never been so ill” and disclosed receiving blood transfusions. While in London, doctors placed him on an intensified supplement regimen. Mrs. Buhari said the former President “was frightened and not taking them as prescribed. So she took charge of his welfare, slipping hospital-issued supplements into his juice and oats.” She described a rapid recovery: “After just three days, he threw away the stick he was walking with. After a week, he was receiving relatives.” She concluded, “That was the genesis, and also the reversal of his sickness.”
The biography further paints a picture of deep mistrust within the Presidency, with Mrs. Buhari alleging that the President’s office was bugged and private conversations were recorded and replayed. She also dismissed long-standing rumors that Buhari had a body double, popularly referred to as “Jibril of Sudan,” describing the claims as absurd.
Author Charles Omole acknowledged criticism of Buhari’s reliance on UK hospitals but argued for a “more compassionate perspective” given the need for specialised care. He also highlighted Buhari’s consistent practice of handing over power to his deputy during medical absences, which he said preserved “institutional propriety, even during personal health crises.”
Energy
Dangote Warns of Looming Global Oil Crisis, Hails Tinubu’s UK Visit as Game-Changer for Nigeria
Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, has sounded the alarm over potential global oil shocks that could exacerbate economic hardship across Africa, while praising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for unlocking critical investment opportunities during his recent state visit to the United Kingdom.
Dangote made the comments following a courtesy visit to President Tinubu at his Lagos residence, explaining that the meeting was primarily to exchange Eid greetings, check on the President’s health, and pay respects.
“I just came to see His Excellency, Mr President, wish him Eid Mubarak, and also ask after his health. I haven’t seen him for a while, and wish him all the very best,” Dangote said.
He described Tinubu’s UK visit as a major diplomatic and investment breakthrough, stressing that modern diplomacy must focus on economic outcomes.
“I think it has opened ways. Today, diplomacy without the economic part of it is not complete. I believe his visit will open quite a lot of doors,” he said.
Dangote highlighted the £746 million UK-backed agreement targeting Nigeria’s infrastructure, especially the ports sector, as a strong signal of international confidence in the country.
“You can see the agreement signed for improving our infrastructure, especially in the ports and other areas, which is almost £746 million. It’s not easy dealing with the British and securing this kind of funding. But it shows confidence in Nigeria,” he stated, adding that the deal is likely to attract further foreign investment from countries such as Germany and others.
He encouraged Nigerian investors to leverage this momentum, particularly by tapping international credit facilities that have remained largely underutilized.
“For Nigerian investors, this shows we can also access these agencies for support. The agency is now open for business for Nigerians, and we should look to tap into it,” he said.
On the global energy outlook, Dangote warned that escalating tensions in the Middle East could drive oil prices higher, intensifying economic pressure, especially in Africa.
“If this crisis doesn’t de-escalate, we’ll end up paying big prices. Africa is already paying debts, and adding more shocks will increase hardship for governments and people alike,” he said.
He also highlighted the cascading effects of rising energy costs on daily life, particularly for small businesses and households that rely on fuel-powered generators.
“People like barbers, bread makers, and small industries who rely on generators will feel the heat if energy prices keep rising,” Dangote warned.
He pointed to global responses to energy pressures, such as reduced work schedules in some countries, drawing parallels to measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Some countries are asking people to work from home or reduce workdays to cope. We did something similar during COVID-19,” he explained.
Despite the looming risks, Dangote expressed hope that the Middle East tensions would ease, urging collective prayers and international cooperation to prevent further escalation.
“We need to pray that this situation de-escalates. In Africa, many people depend on daily earnings, and if they don’t work, they won’t eat. All hands must be on deck to bring this to an end,” he concluded.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing his administration of dismantling democratic institutions and pushing Nigeria dangerously close to authoritarian rule.
In a strongly worded statement signed by the Atiku Media Office and issued on Monday in Abuja on March 23, 2026, Atiku condemned what he described as a “state-sponsored siege” carried out by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on properties linked to former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
According to the former vice president, the action—allegedly taken despite the matter being before the courts—amounts to a blatant abuse of power and a calculated attempt to intimidate perceived political opponents.
“This is not governance. This is intimidation. This is a regime weaponising state power to silence dissent,” Atiku stated.
He warned that Nigeria is witnessing a steady erosion of democratic norms, with security agencies increasingly being deployed for political purposes rather than national security.
“What we are seeing is the naked abuse of power—security agencies used not to protect citizens, but to settle political scores. This is how democracies collapse,” he said.
Atiku further alleged that the Tinubu administration is executing a broader strategy to weaken opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections, claiming that key political actors are being targeted and pressured.
He referenced figures such as Nasir El-Rufai and Malami, alleging attempts to coerce them into aligning with the ruling party.
“This is political coercion at the highest level—an attempt to force compliance through intimidation,” he said.
The former vice president warned that Nigeria risks becoming a one-party state if dissent continues to be suppressed and opposition voices silenced.
“When opposition is weakened and dissent punished, elections become mere formalities,” he added.
Drawing a historical parallel, Atiku cautioned against a repeat of authoritarian tendencies reminiscent of the Sani Abacha self-succession bid, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant.
He also accused the administration of weaponising anti-corruption agencies to pressure political actors into defection, describing the trend as a dangerous form of state capture.
“No individual has the right to dominate the political system or determine the destiny of millions for personal ambition. Leadership must remain accountable,” he stated.
Atiku concluded by emphasising that democracy depends on freedom of choice and political competition.
“Freedom of choice is the lifeblood of democracy. Once it is undermined, dictatorship takes over,” he said.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced plans to arraign former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on multiple charges bordering on alleged financial crimes.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the commission’s spokesperson, Okor Odey, the former governor will be arraigned on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, before the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
The charges, filed under suit number FHC/KD/73/2026, include alleged money laundering, conversion and possession of public property.
The ICPC further disclosed that El-Rufai will also face a separate trial before the Kaduna State High Court on allegations of abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.
In the second case, marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, the former governor is listed alongside Amadu Sule, also known as LEDA, while another defendant, Joel Adoga, is named in the federal high court case.
Odey noted that both cases were filed on March 18, 2026, and that the defendants have been duly served in accordance with legal procedures. He added that the date for arraignment at the state high court would be communicated in due course.
“The commission remains committed to due process and the rule of law,” the ICPC spokesperson stated.
El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, following his arrest shortly after his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had earlier detained him for 48 hours between February 16 and 18, 2026.