Hajia Aisha Buhari
Public affairs analyst and professor of journalism at Kennesaw State University in the United States, Farooq Kperogi, on Wednesday dropped a bombshell when he revealed that Nigeria’s former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, was divorced from the late President Muhammadu Buhari long before his death.
Kperogi shared this unexpected news in a post on his verified Facebook page which jolted many Nigerians.
Aisha Buhari’s conspicuous and curious absence on Thursday evening at a special session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Bola Tinubu convened in honour of the late former President, who was laid to rest in Daura, his hometown on Tuesday, seemed to lend credence to Kperogi’s claim.
The expanded FEC session held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was attended by late Buhari’s children among other dignitaries including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
Reacting to a viral post in which the former First Lady allegedly claimed that her late husband asked her to seek forgiveness from Nigerians on his behalf, Kperogi wrote, “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.
“They had divorced, and Aisha reverted to her maiden name, Aisha Halilu.
“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.
“In fact, when he fell ill and it was suggested that Aisha travel to London to care for 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.
“Even now, during this period of mourning, she seems understandably conflicted about her role.
“So, I’m genuinely curious to know when and where Buhari told her to beg Nigerians for forgiveness. Where did she even say this?”.
His claims come a day after Buhari was laid to rest in his country home at Daura, Katsina State.
Aisha was also present at the burial, visibly grief-stricken as she received comfort from several dignitaries at the event, including First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that Aisha got married to Buhari on December 2, 1989. The couple had five children together.
In September 2019, Daily Trust reported that Aisha Buhari had been out of Nigeria for about two months, setting tongues wagging within the Presidential Villa.
According to Daily Trust, multiple sources at the Villa revealed that the First Lady left the country in protest over “certain developments” within the presidency.
She reportedly departed Nigeria for Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage but did not return with other pilgrims. Credible sources said that after completing the pilgrimage, she proceeded to London and remained there.