Nigeria’s former First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari, has firmly denied reports that she divorced the late President Muhammadu Buhari before his passing.
The claim, initially circulated by Professor Farooq Kperogi, sparked widespread speculation online. However, Kperogi has since retracted the statement and issued an unreserved public apology to Mrs. Buhari.
Aisha Buhari’s response was conveyed by Alhaji Sani Zorro, a respected journalist and her former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs. According to Kperogi, it was Zorro who relayed the First Lady’s position to him, prompting his public apology via a Facebook post on Sunday.
Kperogi wrote:
“Although I should have foreseen it, I honestly didn’t anticipate the deeply painful consequences of my July 16 Facebook post titled ‘Aisha Buhari, Divorce, and Forgiveness Claim.’ It stands as one of the worst lapses of judgment I’ve ever made and has caused me profound personal anguish.”
He acknowledged that while his source maintained the accuracy of the information, it was never intended for public release.
“Publishing it was my mistake. Not all credible information should be made public,” he admitted.
Kperogi added that he would not dispute Aisha Buhari’s account, stating:
“She alone has the right to define the status of her marriage. Her truth must be respected above all else.”
Expressing remorse, he continued:
“The validity of the claim is now less important than the pain it has caused. I acted without malice or ulterior motive, but I recognize the hurt my actions caused.”
“To Mrs. Aisha Buhari,” he concluded, “I offer my heartfelt and unreserved apology for the distress I caused. I am truly sorry.”
