By Anas Abbas
Farooq Kperogi, a journalism professor at Kennesaw State University in the U.S. and a Nigerian commentator, has publicly apologised to former First Lady Aisha Buhari following backlash from a Facebook post in which he erroneously claimed she had divorced the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement issued days after the post ignited widespread public outcry, Kperogi acknowledged that his July 16 update, titled “Aisha Buhari, Divorce, and Forgiveness Claim,” represented a significant misjudgment on his part.
Kperogi expressed regret for not foreseeing the distressing impact his words would have on Mrs. Buhari and her family.
“I did not anticipate the profoundly painful consequences that my Facebook update would have on former First Lady Mrs. Aisha Buhari and those closest to her,” Kperogi stated.
He described the incident as one of the most regrettable lapses in judgment he has experienced, leading to “unfathomable personal anguish.”
In his original post, Kperogi claimed that Aisha Buhari had reverted to her maiden name, Halilu, and suggested she had refused to travel to London to care for her husband during his illness.
He asserted that the information was sourced from a reliable individual but acknowledged that making it public was a mistake.
“My source maintains the accuracy of the information but never intended for it to be disclosed publicly. It was wrong of me to share it,” he said.
He also mentioned that Alhaji Sani Zorro, former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the First Lady, reached out to contest the claims’ validity.
“I will not dispute the details with Alhaji Sani, who communicated Mrs. Buhari’s position that her marriage remains intact. As the late MKO Abiola famously said, no one can give you a haircut in your absence,” he stated.
Kperogi reiterated that only Mrs. Buhari has the authority to discuss her marital status and that her truth should be respected above all else.
He clarified that he did not intend any malice but recognised that the harm caused by his post far outweighed any potential value it might have held.
“The truth of this information is now far less significant than the hurt my disclosure has caused. I should not have shared it publicly. Period. This action violated every moral and ethical principle I uphold,” he admitted.
He concluded with a sincere 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.”
Kperogi’s post gained traction just three days after President Buhari’s passing, eliciting reactions across various political and social media platforms.