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.”
General News
Alue-Do Festival Assault: First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Condemns Attack on Women, Calls for Justice
The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has strongly condemned the reported assault of women and girls during the Alue-Do Festival in Ozoro, Delta State, describing the incident as “horrific” and unacceptable.
Reacting to viral footage from Ozoro, the First Lady expressed outrage over scenes showing young girls being physically and sexually assaulted, as well as subjected to degrading treatment during what was meant to be a cultural celebration.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity, Mrs. Tinubu stressed that no tradition or custom should be used as justification for violating the dignity and rights of women and girls.
She commended the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force for making arrests in connection with the incident and urged authorities to ensure that all perpetrators are brought to justice.
The First Lady also called on victims to seek immediate medical and psychological support, offering prayers for their healing, peace, and strength in the aftermath of the ordeal.
The incident has sparked widespread concern and renewed calls for stricter measures to protect women and girls during cultural and public events across the country.
General News
World Water Day 2026: Oluremi Tinubu Calls for Gender Equity Through Improved Water Access
The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has called for collective action to promote gender equality through improved access to water and sanitation, as the world marks World Water Day 2026.
In a message commemorating the day, Senator Tinubu highlighted this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” alongside the campaign slogan, “Where Water Flows, Equality Grows,” emphasizing the strong link between water access and gender equity.
She noted that in many communities, women and girls bear the burden of sourcing water, often trekking long distances to streams, a situation that negatively impacts their education, health, and economic opportunities.
“When we ensure safe, clean, and accessible water, we do more than quench thirst; we open doors for girls to stay in school, for women to pursue livelihoods, and for families to live healthier lives,” she said.
The First Lady urged Nigerians to work together to ensure equitable access to water resources across the country, stressing that improved water systems can drive social and economic development.
She concluded by encouraging citizens to embrace the spirit of the global observance and reaffirm commitments toward building a more inclusive society.
“Let us work together to ensure that where water flows in Nigeria, equity truly grows,” she added.
World Water Day is observed annually on March 22 to raise awareness on the importance of freshwater and advocate for sustainable management of water resources worldwide.
Fresh hostilities in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict intensified early Sunday, with Iran launching strikes near Israel’s main nuclear research centre, leaving dozens injured and raising fears of wider regional escalation.
According to reports, missiles hit areas close to the nuclear facility in Dimona and the southern city of Arad. Rescue services confirmed that nearly 70 people were injured in Arad alone, with several in serious condition and multiple residential buildings severely damaged.
The Israeli military said it had begun retaliatory strikes targeting locations in Tehran, further escalating the conflict, which has now entered its fourth week.
Iran warned that any attack on its energy facilities would trigger retaliatory strikes on U.S. and Israeli infrastructure across the region. The threat followed a statement by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned that the United States could target Iranian power plants if Tehran fails to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Iranian authorities described such threats as provocative, vowing a firm response if carried out.
Saudi Arabia also confirmed that its air defence systems intercepted missiles and drones targeting its territory, including areas near key oil installations, with no casualties reported. In a separate incident, a projectile struck near a commercial vessel off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, causing an explosion but leaving the crew unharmed.
Iran’s state media reported that the death toll within the country has surpassed 1,500 since the conflict began, raising humanitarian concerns. Legal experts have also warned that targeting civilian infrastructure such as power plants could violate international law.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the situation as “a very difficult moment,” as emergency teams continued search-and-rescue operations in affected areas.
In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi rebels warned they could join the conflict if attacks against Iran intensify, cautioning that further escalation could disrupt global energy supplies and economic stability.
Despite diplomatic signals, including a temporary U.S. move to ease sanctions on Iranian oil shipments, there are no clear signs of de-escalation, with both sides continuing military operations. Analysts warn the conflict risks expanding into a broader regional war with significant global implications.