…Opinion divided over viral claim, timing of revelation
A viral quote circulating on social media claiming that former First Lady, A’isha Buhari said her husband asked her to seek forgiveness from Nigerians on his behalf has come under scrutiny, with prominent columnist Farooq Kperogi questioning its authenticity.
In an opinion article, Kperogi stated thst he could not verify the statement, arguing that it contradicts what is known about the couple’s private life before former President Muhammadu Buhari’s death last Sunday. According to him, Buhari and A’isha had divorced before his passing, with the former First Lady reverting to her maiden name, A’isha Halilu.
“If you paid close attention, you would notice that A’isha didn’t go to Daura when Buhari retired to the town after leaving office. Buhari was also alone when he later relocated to Kaduna”, Kperogi wrote, adding that A’isha was initially reluctant to travel to London to care for Buhari as his health worsened, only doing so after “intense persuasion” in his final days.
Kperogi suggested her absence during Buhari’s retirement and the mourning period raised questions about when such an apology request could have taken place. “So, I’m genuinely curious to know when and where Buhari told her to beg Nigerians for forgiveness. Where did she even say this?” he asked.
Neither A’isha Buhari nor the Buhari family has commented publicly on the divorce claim or the alleged forgiveness statement. Recall that the Late president was buried in Daura, Katsina State, on Tuesday, amid tributes from leaders and supporters nationwide.
However, Kperogi’s piece has drawn mixed reactions. In a counter-opinion, a veteran journalist and admirer of Kperogi’s work, Shittu Ahmed Obassa, expressed disappointment at the timing and public airing of the alleged marital rift.
In a post on his Facebook handle, Obassa described Kperogi as a respected voice, whose corrections he often values, but argued that the professor’s disclosure, true or not, should not have surfaced during the three-day fida’u prayers for the Late president. “What has happened to our humanity aside our religious obligations and social responsibilities?” Obassa asked, adding that such private matters should not be debated in the public domain during a period of mourning.
He noted that Islamic tradition allows a reconciliation period after divorce, and it was possible the couple had resolved their differences before Buhari’s death. Obassa questioned whether the statement attributed to A’isha — referring to Buhari as “my husband” — would make sense if the divorce had been final.
He further reminded Kperogi that divorce is permissible under Islamic law but disliked by God, and argued that revisiting such a private issue at this sensitive time brings needless pain to the bereaved family. “Bringing his private affairs to public scrutiny was not fair in this mourning period”, he wrote.
Obassa concluded by appealing for more decorum in public commentary, urging Kperogi and other commentators to weigh the social value of such disclosures, especially when the nation is still grieving. “It is human to err and divine to forgive”, he wrote, describing the publication as “an error of the head” by an otherwise “distinguished scholar and topflight journalist”.
