Kperogi Retracts Divorce Claim, Apologises to Aisha Buhari

Farooq Kperogi, a US-based Nigerian professor and prominent public affairs commentator, has issued a public apology to former First Lady Aisha Buhari over a claim he previously made about the status of her marriage to the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a Facebook post published on July 20, Kperogi admitted that his earlier assertion—that Aisha Buhari and her husband had divorced after he left office in 2023—was a serious lapse in judgment. The claim, which circulated widely on social media shortly after the former president’s death, was picked up by several national news outlets, lending it significant visibility and perceived credibility.

Reflecting on the situation, Kperogi acknowledged that while the information came from what he described as a credible source, it should never have been shared publicly. “I honestly didn’t anticipate the profoundly painful consequences that my July 16 Facebook update titled ‘Aisha Buhari, Divorce, and Forgiveness Claim’ would have on former First Lady Mrs. Aisha Buhari and people closest to her,” he wrote. “Going public with the information was an error on my part, as not every well-sourced information is for public consumption.”

Kperogi revealed that Alhaji Sani Zorro, a former Senior Special Assistant to the First Lady on Public Affairs, reached out to challenge the accuracy of the post and relayed Mrs Buhari’s position that her marriage to the late president remained intact until his passing. In response, Kperogi said he accepted her account without contest, quoting the late MKO Abiola: “No one can give you a haircut in your absence.”

He went on to acknowledge that, regardless of the facts, the pain caused by his statement far outweighed any argument over its accuracy. “Clearly, Mrs. Buhari herself has the ultimate authority and right to define the status of her marriage… Her truth should be respected as supreme,” he wrote. Emphasising that he acted without malice or external influence, Kperogi added, “It shows I am only human, an imperfect human.”

In conclusion, he offered a direct apology: “To Mrs. Aisha Buhari, I offer my heartfelt and unreserved apology for the needless and deeply regrettable hurt I have caused. I am truly sorry.”