A combuned photo of Aisha Buhari and Farooq Kperogi
By Victory Oghene
US based Nigerian academic and newspaper columnist, Farooq Kperogi, has apologised to former First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, over a controversial Facebook post in which he claimed that she divorced from her late husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari, before his demise.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Sunday afternoon, Kperogi described the July 16 post titled: “Aisha Buhari, Divorce, and Forgiveness Claim” as “one of the worst and cruelest lapses of judgement” he has ever committed.
He acknowledged that the post had caused “profoundly painful consequences” for the former First Lady and those close to her.
Although he maintained that his source for the information was “unimpeachable” and stood by the accuracy of the claim, Kperogi admitted that the details were never meant for public consumption.
“My source, whose integrity is unimpeachable, insists the information is accurate, but never intended for it to become public,”
Kperogi wrote. “Going public with the information was an error on my part, as not every well-sourced information is for public consumption.”
It would be recalled that the July 16 post had stirred widespread reactions after Kperogi claimed that Aisha and her husband had been divorced prior to his death.
He also stressed that the late President had reportedly asked Aisha for forgiveness before he passed.
In his apology, Kperogi disclosed that Alhaji Sani Zorro, former senior special assistant to the ex-First Lady on Public Affairs and a respected associate, had personally reached out to challenge the accuracy of the claim and conveyed Aisha’s position that her marriage to the late president remained intact.
“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,” Kperogi stated. “After all, as the late MKO Abiola memorably said, no one can give you a haircut in your absence.”
He further emphasised that Aisha retained the ultimate authority over the narrative of her marital life and that “her truth should be respected as supreme, whatever other facts may exist.”
While Kperogi reiterated that he acted without malice, he took full responsibility for the emotional distress his post may have caused.
“I shouldn’t have shared it publicly. Period,” he wrote. “Doing so violated every moral and ethical principle I cherish and uphold. But it shows I am only human, an imperfect human.”
He continued, “I realise 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.”
Kperogi however offered an unreserved apology Mrs. Buhari.
“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.”
