Why Buhari Didn’t Sack Underperforming Ministers, Aides – Aisha

Former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has opened up about why her late husband, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, was often reluctant to sack underperforming aides, and why he later pleaded on behalf of some allies facing probes.

Her account appeared in a new 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.

The book chronicled Buhari’s life from his early years in Daura, Katsina State, to his final days in a London hospital in July 2025.

According to Aisha Buhari, advancing age and a sensitivity to the “dictator” label from his 1980s military rule made him wary of being seen as ruthless. “As you age, performance changes,” she explained. She added that some aides learned to exploit this hesitation, using cautionary clichés to reinforce his reluctance.

She recalled, “Even if a man ‘eats,’ if he can still deliver 50 per cent, keep him; But if he both eats and cannot perform, then he must go.” Omole noted that her analysis sheds light on a long-running debate about Buhari’s hesitance to dismiss ministers and service chiefs, a fault even his family acknowledged.

The biography also details how, after leaving office, Buhari intervened on behalf of allies asked to step aside for investigations.

“When asked to step aside for investigations, Buhari pleaded with the new government on behalf of his kinsmen, seeking to shield them because he still depended on them for many personal matters,” the book read.

Several senior officials from Buhari’s tenure are currently facing probes, including former Accountant-General Ahmed Idris, ex-Power Minister Saleh Mamman, and former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, among others.

Aisha Buhari said she refused calls to return to Daura to facilitate prosecutions, describing those involved as “illiterate in their maturity.”

She added that in Buhari’s final months, he became more reserved, replying mostly with yes or no and avoiding eye contact, a reflection of “shame, duty, and love” in his last days.