A Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Farooq Kperogi, has alleged that Aisha was no longer married to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kperogi made this claim in a post on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday.

According to him, Aisha had dropped Buhari as her surname and reverted to her maiden name, Halilu.

He further alleged that Aisha was reluctant to travel to the United Kingdom to care for Buhari when he became ill.

Kperogi was reacting to quotes attributed to Aisha, which claimed Buhari had asked her to seek forgiveness from Nigerians on his behalf.

Although Kperogi said he could not confirm the authenticity of the quotes, he maintained that the couple were no longer married.

He wrote: “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.”

In what was intended as a gesture of grassroots empowerment, the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, has come under fire after distributing plastic buckets to women in his constituency as part of an empowerment programme.

The event, which took place in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, drew immediate reactions from both residents and social media users, many of whom described the gesture as “demeaning,” “insulting,” and a stark departure from the expectations of meaningful representation.

Photos from the event showed women, some elderly lining up to receive branded plastic buckets, sparking a flurry of criticism over what many perceived as a tone-deaf approach to empowerment in a region grappling with youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, and economic hardship.

“This is not empowerment; it’s embarrassment,” a resident of Elu Ohafia told our correspondent. “We sent a representative to fight for opportunities in Abuja, not to bring us buckets as if we are refugees.”

Another community youth leader questioned the priorities of the lawmaker: “With all the constituency funds allocated, is this the best Hon. Ibe Okwara can offer the women of Arochukwu and Ohafia? Is this how he plans to reduce poverty, one bucket at a time?”

The incident has reignited the ongoing debate over what constitutes meaningful empowerment in Nigeria’s political landscape. Critics argue that symbolic or tokenistic gestures have replaced genuine development efforts, with many elected officials resorting to the distribution of trivial items under the guise of empowerment.

Attempts to reach Hon. Ibe Okwara for comments were unsuccessful as of press time. However, aides close to the lawmaker defended the initiative, describing it as “a modest intervention aimed at reaching out to rural women with useful household items.”

Still, for many constituents, the optics of the event speak louder than the intention.

Political observers warn that such missteps may have long-term consequences, especially as constituents become increasingly vocal about demanding transparency, impact-driven representation, and measurable development.

As the 2027 elections approach, residents say they will no longer be pacified with handouts, but will demand leaders who can deliver policy-driven progress and tangible infrastructure.

“This is 2025,” a frustrated youth from Abam lamented. “We can’t be clapping for buckets anymore.”

Tragedy has struck Guma Local Government Area of Benue State following fresh attacks by armed herdsmen, leaving one person confirmed dead and several others missing.

Ekwutosblog gathered that the attackers invaded Tsekar village in Ukohol, Nyiev Council Ward, where a resident identified as Mr. Tyough William was killed.

In a related development, the armed herdsmen reportedly ambushed a group of Tiv travelers along the Yogbo-Gungu Aze road. The victims were said to be returning from Yogbo to Ortese community when the assailants struck.

According to local sources, one of the travelers, Mr. Udam Dogo, is still missing. Concern grew among relatives when calls to his phone were answered by an unknown herder, raising serious fears for his safety.

However, the total number of casualties and missing persons is yet to be officially confirmed.

When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP. Udeme Edet, said she was not aware of the incident at the time of the report.