By Sabiu Abdullahi
Respected columnist and political analyst, Farooq Kperogi, has claimed that former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha Buhari, were divorced before the former leader’s death.
In a piece titled “Aisha Buhari, Divorce, and Forgiveness Claim,” Kperogi wrote, “What I do know is that before Buhari’s death, he and Aisha were no longer married. They had divorced, and Aisha reverted to her maiden name, Aisha Halilu.”
According to Kperogi, signs of their separation had been evident since Buhari left office. He noted that Aisha did not accompany Buhari to Daura after his retirement and was absent when he later moved to Kaduna.
“If you paid close attention, you would notice that Aisha didn’t go to Daura when he retired to the town after leaving office. Buhari was also alone when he later relocated to Kaduna,” he stated.
He also revealed that when Buhari’s health declined in London, Aisha initially hesitated to travel to him.
“She reportedly hesitated because she was no longer his wife. She eventually went in the last few days before he died, but only after intense persuasion,” Kperogi claimed.
Commenting on the days following Buhari’s death, Kperogi noted that Aisha appears uncertain about her place in the ongoing mourning.
“Even now, during this period of mourning, she seems understandably conflicted about her role,” he said.
Neither Aisha Buhari nor the Presidency has responded to the claims, but the statement has stirred public interest in a part of Buhari’s life that remained largely shielded from public view during his presidency.