Nigerian-American professor and media scholar, Farooq Kperogi, has claimed that former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, was officially divorced from the late President Muhammadu Buhari before his death.
In a statement released on his verified social media platforms and widely circulated in the Nigerian media space, Kperogi alleged that the couple had been separated for a significant period before the former president's passing. He further claimed that the divorce had been kept away from the public eye due to political and cultural sensitivities surrounding the presidency and family image.
“The truth many Nigerians don’t know is that Aisha and Muhammadu Buhari were no longer husband and wife at the time of his death,” Kperogi stated. “They had divorced quietly, and Aisha had long moved out of the Villa and largely stayed away from public engagements.”
The assertion has sparked widespread debate and speculation across political, media, and civil society circles, especially considering the former First Lady’s visible absence from recent key national events and her limited public appearances prior to Buhari’s demise.
As of the time of this release, no official response has been issued by Aisha Buhari or members of the late president’s family. The Presidency also remains silent on the matter, neither confirming nor denying the claims.
Kperogi, known for his critical commentary on Nigerian political affairs, stated that his revelation was not intended to stir controversy but to “set the historical record straight” following President Buhari’s recent death and the national attention surrounding his legacy.
The late President Muhammadu Buhari, who ruled Nigeria from 2015 to 2023, died earlier this week in Abuja and has since been buried in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, in accordance with Islamic rites.