Former Nigerian First Lady Aisha Buhari has confirmed she will not remarry following the death of her husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the decision as a pragmatic choice rather than a moral stance. Her remarks feature prominently in a 600-page biography, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, authored by Dr Charles Omole and unveiled at the State House, Abuja, on Monday.
“She will not remarry, she says, almost with a shrug. It is not a moral pronouncement so much as a pragmatic one: she has grandchildren; one husband was enough,” Omole wrote, quoting Mrs Buhari. The biography charts her life from childhood in Adamawa State to her years as Nigeria’s First Lady, highlighting both her public and private experiences.
According to the author, Aisha Buhari’s decision challenges cultural expectations that often judge widows as either betrayers for remarrying or saints for abstaining. “In a culture that sometimes reads remarriage as betrayal or saintliness, her answer refuses both scripts. It is simply a woman naming the contours of her future,” the book notes.
Aisha Buhari reportedly plans to embrace a more private life, focusing on family, philanthropy, and personal growth. She intends to spend time with her grandchildren and friends while continuing her humanitarian initiatives, including the Aisha Buhari Foundation and the Cardiovascular and Medical Centre in Kano, which has performed over 200 medical procedures.
The biography portrays her post-political life as a “personal reset after years in the political spotlight,” signaling a graceful retreat from national politics. Omole writes, “If the republic expects a politics of eternal return, she offers a politics of departure instead: let others take the stage; let the house heal.”
Reflecting on her marriage, Omole describes it as both empowering and challenging: it provided her with a platform to voice her opinions but often punished her for doing so. The couple married on December 2, 1989, after Buhari’s divorce from his first wife, and were together for 35 years, raising five children.
With her husband’s passing in July 2025, Aisha Buhari appears set to close a chapter defined by political life and national service, turning her focus to family, quiet reflection, and sustainable philanthropy. Omole summarises her outlook: “Her refusal to remarry is not defiance—it is contentment.”
