Amid swirling rumours about the health of former President Muhammadu Buhari, his former Special Assistant on Digital Communications, Bashir Ahmad, has broken his silence—affirming that the ex-Nigerian leader is alive, stable, and responding to treatment.
Ahmad, in a post shared via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, dismissed growing social media claims suggesting that Buhari, 82, had been rushed abroad and was on life support in a United Kingdom intensive care unit.
“It is true that former President Buhari is unwell and is currently receiving medical attention. However, contrary to the exaggerated claims circulating in the media, he is stable and responding well to treatment, and we are optimistic about his full recovery,” Ahmad stated.
The clarification comes after a surge of unverified reports sparked fears among Buhari’s supporters and political allies, many of whom remain sensitive to updates about the former president’s well-being—especially due to his health history during his time in office.
Between 2015 and 2023, Buhari was frequently absent from public functions owing to medical trips, the most notable being his 104-day medical leave in London in 2017, which led to then Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo acting as president in his stead.
Since exiting office in May 2023, Buhari has kept a relatively low profile, shuttling quietly between his hometown in Daura, Katsina State, and Kaduna, with occasional foreign medical visits.
Ahmad expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their concern and outpouring of goodwill, writing, “We appreciate the prayers and goodwill from his supporters and well-wishers around the world. We continue to pray for his complete and speedy recovery.”
Only days earlier, Buhari’s longtime spokesperson, Garba Shehu, had announced that the former president was billed to attend the public presentation of his memoir, titled “According to the President: Lessons From A Presidential Spokesman’s Experience”, scheduled for July 9.
The recent developments underscore the continued interest in the life of Nigeria’s former leader, whose post-presidency lifestyle has remained a subject of media focus, especially whenever speculation about his health arises.
Concerns about Buhari’s health have followed him since assuming office in 2015. During his eight-year tenure, he undertook multiple overseas medical visits, often without public disclosure of the nature of his ailments, a practice that drew criticism and fuelled speculation.
Despite this, Buhari consistently returned to duty and maintained that he would live out his retirement in peace in Daura.
His commitment to a quiet post-office life has, however, been disrupted by persistent rumours, with the latest episode prompting close allies to step in for clarification.
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