By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
United States-based Nigerian academic, Farooq Kperogi has tendered his unreserved apology to the former Nigeria First Lady, Aisha Buhari, asking her to forgive him over his report claiming that she (Aisha) had divorced her husband (Muhammadu Buhari) before his death.
Kperogi, a Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, made the claim in a post on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday while responding to reports that Aisha had stated her late husband had asked her to seek forgiveness from Nigerians on his behalf.
“I can’t verify the authenticity of that statement, but what I do know is that before Buhari’s death, he and Aisha were no longer married. They had divorced, and she resumed using her maiden name, Aisha Halilu,” Kperogi wrote on his Facebook page.
But in another post on Sunday, July 20, Kperogi apologised.
“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,” he stated.
The public affairs analyst maintained that he did not intend to harm Mrs. Buhari or execute any personal vendetta with his post, but realize it might be impossible for many to believe that he acted without malice, ulterior motives, or external influence.
Kperogi further explained, “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 cruelest lapses of judgement I have ever committed in my life, and it has been a source of unfathomable personal anguish for me these past few days.
“My source, whose integrity is unimpeachable, insists the information is accurate, but never intended for it to become public. Going public with the information was an error on my part, as not every well-sourced information is for public consumption.
“On the other side, Alhaji Sani Zorro, former SSA to the First Lady on Public Affairs, whom I hold in the highest esteem, has reached out to question the accuracy of my claims.
“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.
“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.”
