Aisha Buhari Was Divorced From Late President Buhari Before His Death – Farooq Kperogi
The death of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has triggered not only a national period of mourning but also a cascade of revelations and public debates, the most startling of which came from renowned US-based Nigerian academic and media critic, Professor Farooq Kperogi. In a post shared on his verified Facebook page, Kperogi claimed that Aisha Buhari, the former First Lady of Nigeria, had been divorced from the late President Muhammadu Buhari long before his demise.
This revelation has sparked considerable debate in political and public circles, challenging the assumptions of millions who saw Aisha Buhari standing beside her husband during his presidency and later attending his burial. The claim adds a layer of intrigue to an already complex and controversial political legacy—raising questions about power, privacy, political optics, and the internal dynamics of Nigeria’s first family.
This report dives deep into the content and implications of Farooq Kperogi’s statements, the reactions it has generated, the timeline of events surrounding the purported divorce, and the broader cultural and political significance of such a revelation in Nigerian public life.
On July 16, 2025, Professor Farooq Kperogi, a consistent critic of the Nigerian political elite and a seasoned journalist, dropped a bombshell in a social media post. He stated that contrary to public assumption, Muhammadu Buhari and Aisha Buhari were no longer married at the time of the former president’s death. He suggested that the couple had divorced in private and that Aisha had even reverted to her maiden name, Aisha Halilu, before Buhari’s death.
“People have been circulating a quote attributed to Aisha Buhari, claiming that Buhari asked her to seek forgiveness from Nigerians on his behalf. I can’t confirm the authenticity of that claim, but what I do know is that before Buhari’s death, he and Aisha were no longer married,” Kperogi wrote.
He further added:
“They had divorced, and Aisha reverted to her maiden name, Aisha Halilu.”
Kperogi’s claim effectively reframes recent public appearances and interactions between the couple—or lack thereof—as more than just personal preference or routine estrangement but as symptoms of a deeply severed relationship.
Observations and Clues
Kperogi supported his claims with observations that he encouraged Nigerians to reflect upon. These include:
- Absence from Daura Post-Presidency: When Buhari retired to his hometown of Daura in May 2023, Aisha Buhari reportedly did not join him.
- Buhari’s Later Relocation to Kaduna: Even after Buhari relocated to Kaduna from Daura, he was said to be living alone.
- Aisha’s Reported Hesitation to Visit Buhari During His Illness: According to Kperogi, Aisha initially hesitated to travel to London to tend to Buhari when he fell critically ill, allegedly because she was no longer his wife.
- Conflicted Role During Mourning Period: The professor also pointed to Aisha’s perceived discomfort and ambiguity during Buhari’s burial rites as indicative of a changed personal status.
“Even now, during this period of mourning, she seems understandably conflicted about her role,” he noted.
Kperogi concluded his statement with a direct challenge to the source of the quote that alleged Buhari told Aisha to beg Nigerians for forgiveness on his behalf. He asked:
“So, I’m genuinely curious to know when and where Buhari told her to beg Nigerians for forgiveness. Where did she even say this?”
While Farooq Kperogi’s revelation may come as a shock to many, there have been signs over the years suggesting that all was not well within Nigeria’s First Family. Aisha Buhari had, during her husband’s presidency, been outspoken in ways that set her apart from previous First Ladies. She publicly criticized powerful cabals within Aso Rock, claimed her husband was not in control of his administration, and frequently disappeared from the public eye for extended periods.
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In September 2019, SaharaReporters and Daily Trust reported that Aisha Buhari had been out of the country for months, having left for Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage but later choosing to remain in London instead of returning home with other pilgrims. This raised suspicions of a major falling out within the presidential family, especially after sources within Aso Rock claimed she left in protest over certain decisions made within the presidency.
These early signs now appear more plausible in light of Kperogi’s assertion that the couple divorced before Buhari’s death.
In Nigeria, especially within the northern Islamic tradition, divorce is not uncommon and does not necessarily attract stigma. However, for a sitting president, a public divorce would have been unprecedented and politically sensitive. Divorce in Islam can be processed quickly and discretely, often requiring only the husband’s declaration of “Talaq” (divorce) to be recognized under Sharia law.
That said, a political divorce—especially involving a president and First Lady—is a different matter altogether. It would carry implications for national image, religious perception, and power structure within the presidency.
It is plausible that, if the divorce did happen, it was deliberately kept from the public to preserve a facade of unity, avoid scandal, and maintain the symbolic power of the First Family until the end of Buhari’s tenure.
Critics of Kperogi, however, accused him of capitalizing on the president’s death to push an unverified narrative. Some viewed his statements as speculative and insensitive.
Aisha Buhari has not made any public comment in response to the claim as of the time of this publication.
If confirmed, the claim that Buhari and Aisha were divorced before his death complicates how historians and Nigerians might remember the former president’s personal legacy. It also casts new light on Aisha Buhari’s advocacy and criticisms during her husband’s rule.
Throughout her tenure as First Lady, Aisha Buhari walked a tightrope—sometimes upholding her ceremonial duties and at other times acting as an opposition voice within the presidency. A divorce could explain her frequent absences, the personal frustrations that seeped into her public statements, and the muted role she played in Buhari’s final days.
It also raises questions about the authenticity of the statements attributed to her, particularly those seeking public forgiveness on Buhari’s behalf. If she was no longer legally his wife, was it appropriate or even possible for her to serve as his moral emissary to the Nigerian people?
Neither the Nigerian presidency nor close members of the Buhari family have commented on Kperogi’s claims. The lack of an official denial or confirmation adds to the ambiguity. In the absence of legal documents or public statements from the couple themselves, much of the discourse remains speculative—though compelling.
Given Nigeria’s deeply conservative and often gossipy political culture, it’s unlikely that such a revelation would be formally acknowledged unless evidence emerges in the public domain.
The notion of a divorced First Couple in Nigeria is unprecedented. In a political system where optics and appearances often overshadow substance, the image of the presidential family is typically sacrosanct.
Whether they were genuinely divorced or merely estranged, Aisha Buhari’s journey as First Lady was marked by rare boldness, transparency, and visible tension. Her experience, especially if Kperogi’s claim holds water, could set a precedent for how future First Ladies navigate public life—and perhaps encourage more open conversations about the personal cost of power.
Farooq Kperogi’s revelation, whether entirely accurate or not, has opened up a new chapter in the public understanding of Muhammadu Buhari’s final years and Aisha Buhari’s political and personal journey. It challenges long-held assumptions about presidential marriages, the inner workings of Nigeria’s ruling elite, and the burdens placed upon women in power.
For now, Aisha Buhari remains a widow in the eyes of the public—but if history proves Kperogi right, she may also be remembered as a divorced First Lady whose personal truth was sacrificed on the altar of statecraft.
As Nigerians reflect on Buhari’s legacy, this story adds another layer to a complex portrait of a man who ruled for eight years, left behind a divided country, and whose own family life may have mirrored the turbulence of the nation he once led.