Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari died of pneumonia, not cancer, according to his wife, Aisha Buhari. She revealed this in a biography of her late husband titled *From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari*, written by Charles Omole. President Buhari passed away in mid‑2025 at a London clinic, was flown back to Nigeria, and was buried in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State.
Aisha Buhari described her husband’s final days as difficult, noting that he spent time in both the intensive‑care unit and a regular ward before his condition worsened. She attributed his illness to decades of physical exposure that began during his military service. Buhari had spent 30 months as a soldier in the bush, largely in the South‑South region, where he was often soaked by rain while wearing uniforms that dried on his body. According to Aisha, this prolonged exposure, combined with the use of air‑conditioning in his later years, likely contributed to the development of pneumonia, which ultimately proved fatal. She is quoted in the book: “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. Decades later, the cold lodged in his lungs and bones—exacerbated by office air‑conditioning. Pneumonia was the last adversary.”
The biography also notes that sputum tests performed on President Buhari showed no signs of cancer; medical professionals confirmed pneumonia as the cause of death. Aisha Buhari’s disclosure clarifies the circumstances surrounding her husband’s passing, which had been the subject of speculation. The former president’s legacy continues to influence Nigeria, and this new information sheds light on the final days of a man who played a pivotal role in the nation’s history. The book offers a unique insight into the experiences that shaped him, from his military service to his later years as a statesman.
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