Farooq Kperogi, a US-based Nigerian journalism professor, has issued a public apology and retracted his earlier claim that former President Muhammadu Buhari divorced his wife, Aisha Buhari, before his death.
Gatekeepers News reports that on July 16, Kperogi alleged in a Facebook post that the former First Lady had separated from Buhari, reverted to her maiden name “Halilu,” and did not accompany him to Daura after he left office.
He also claimed that Aisha only travelled to London to care for Buhari during the prolonged illness that led to his death, after being intensely persuaded.
However, in a statement posted on Saturday, Kperogi admitted that publishing the claims was a grave error. He expressed sincere remorse for the emotional distress caused, particularly to Mrs. Buhari.
He said, “Although I absolutely should have foreseen it, 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.”
“It’s one of the worst and cruellest lapses of judgment I have ever committed in my life, and it has been a source of unfathomable personal anguish for me these past few days.”
Kperogi revealed that Sani Zorro, a former aide to Aisha Buhari on public affairs, had reached out to him to challenge the accuracy of the claims.
Acknowledging the sensitivity of the matter, Kperogi said he should have exercised more discretion, even if the source of the information remains credible.
He said, “My source, whose integrity is unimpeachable, insists the information is accurate but never intended for it to become public.”
“I will not contest the particulars and veracity of the information with Alhaji Sani, who conveyed the former First Lady’s position that her marriage was intact. After all, as the late MKO Abiola memorably said, no one can give you a haircut in your absence.”
“Clearly, Mrs. Buhari herself has the ultimate authority and right to define the status of her marriage with her late husband. Her truth should be respected as supreme, whatever other facts may exist.”
Kperogi concluded by apologizing directly to Mrs. Buhari, acknowledging that he should not have published the claims without considering their impact.
He said, “Moreover, the truth of this information is now far less significant than the hurt my disclosure of it has caused. I shouldn’t have shared it publicly. Period. Doing so violated every moral and ethical principle I cherish and uphold. But it shows I am only human, an imperfect human.”
“I realize it might be impossible for many to believe (except those who truly know me) that I acted without malice, ulterior motives, or external influence. But I sincerely did not intend to harm Mrs. Buhari or execute any personal vendetta.”
