Former First Lady Aisha Buhari has said she has no intention of remarrying following the death of her husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari, stressing that the decision is based on practicality, not moral judgment.
Speaking during a conversation with Dr Charles Omole, author of the newly launched biography From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Buhari said she feels fulfilled and ready for a new phase of life. The 600-page book was unveiled at the State House in Abuja on Monday.
According to the author, Aisha Buhari made her position clear in simple terms, explaining that one marriage was enough for her. With children and grandchildren to care for, she said remarriage is no longer a priority.
The biography, which traces Buhari’s life from his childhood in Daura, Katsina State, to his final days in a London hospital in July 2025, presents her choice as deeply personal rather than symbolic. It notes that she has chosen not to conform to societal expectations that often label widows as either disloyal for remarrying or virtuous for remaining single.
Instead, the book describes her decision as that of a woman defining her own future.
Looking ahead, Aisha Buhari said she plans to live a quieter and more balanced life, sharing her time between family, philanthropy and travel. She hopes to be more present in the lives of her grandchildren, allowing them to know her not as a distant public figure but as an active part of their childhood.
She also intends to continue running the Aisha Buhari Foundation, as well as the cardiovascular and medical centre in Kano, which has already carried out more than 200 medical procedures.
The book adds that she will remain socially engaged in a calmer way by hosting, collaborating and extending the same sense of care that shaped her public life, but in a more sustainable and private manner.
Dr Omole describes her decision as a deliberate step away from political life after years in the spotlight, noting that while politics often demands constant visibility, Aisha Buhari has chosen withdrawal and healing instead.
He reflects on her years in marriage as both empowering and challenging, a period that gave her a platform to speak out, but also exposed her to criticism and exclusion. Though she gained access to the corridors of power, those spaces, the book suggests, were not always welcoming.
Buhari married Aisha Buhari (née Halilu) on December 2, 1989, after his divorce in 1988. Born in 1971 in Adamawa State, she became First Lady when Buhari was elected president in 2015. The couple were married for 35 years and had five children.
Advertisement
