Former First Lady Aisha Buhari has revealed critical insights into the vulnerabilities and challenges faced by her late husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari, during his tenure. These disclosures are detailed in the biography, "From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari," authored by Dr. Charles Omole.

According to Mrs. Buhari, the former President was susceptible to various forms of scheming and manipulation by his extended family members and old friends. She explained that Buhari's deep fondness and attachment to these individuals were allegedly exploited, leading to detrimental effects on the administration's lofty goals. With most of their children living and studying abroad early in Buhari’s first term, extended family members filled a void and occupied houses across the Aso Villa, learning shortcuts and shadows, and exploiting his weaknesses.

Mrs. Buhari further disclosed that she actively resisted attempts by what she described as a powerful cabal residing in Aso Villa, who sought to displace her and her children from the presidential residence. She recounted a period where the house quickly filled with relatives, their wives, grandchildren, courtiers, and staff who tried to push her and her family out. Firm on her boundaries, she asserted, “This is my house. You can live wherever you like, but you cannot be in charge of my husband’s office and then also be in charge of me, his wife, inside my house.” She also noted that some relatives, despite having no official roles, attempted to influence access to the Villa, and people who had supported her husband during his opposition years were sidelined.

A significant weakness of the Buhari administration, as identified by Aisha Buhari, was the failure to decisively remove non-performing officials. She attributes this hesitation partly to a combination of aging, fear of public perception (specifically, being labeled a dictator again), and emotional manipulation by close aides. Buhari, she said, often felt sorry for struggling appointees, using phrases like, “If I remove him, they will say I am this and that,” and the familiar phrase “the devil you know” to justify retaining failing officials, even when policy execution stalled. She starkly outlined her own rule: tolerate an official who “eats” but delivers at least 50 percent, but remove one who “eats” and does nothing. The family, she revealed, quietly agreed that this refusal to sack non-performers became a structural flaw, exacerbated by advisers and relatives who used flattery, emotional pressure, and delay tactics to turn loyalty into a shield against accountability.

Mrs. Buhari also recounted a particular incident where security officials suggested she temporarily leave Abuja for Daura to allow investigations into certain close associates to proceed without interference. She refused this suggestion, after which Buhari reportedly withdrew emotionally, speaking and eating less. Even after leaving office, she claimed that Buhari privately requested President Bola Tinubu not to probe some of his kinsmen, as he still relied on them for personal needs. For Aisha Buhari, this episode underscored the profound danger of emotional dependence at the highest echelons of power.