Journalist, public commentator, and academic, Farooq Kperogi, has formally issued a public retraction and apology following his earlier claim that the late former President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha Buhari, were divorced before the president’s death.
Kperogi had made the initial assertion in a widely circulated Facebook post dated July 16, in which he suggested that the former First Lady and her husband had separated prior to his passing. However, after facing backlash and receiving clarification from individuals close to Aisha Buhari, he has now withdrawn the statement and expressed deep remorse over the incident.
In his apology, Kperogi conveyed his sincere regrets for any emotional distress caused by the publication of the misinformation. He extended his heartfelt apology directly to Mrs. Aisha Buhari and others affected by the statement, describing the episode as one of the most regrettable errors of judgment in his professional and personal life.
His words …
“Apology to Aisha Buhari
Farooq Kperogi
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.”
He continued, “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.”
Kperogi admitted that although his source was highly credible and maintained the accuracy of the information, the content was never intended for public release. “Going public with the information was an error on my part, as not every well-sourced information is for public consumption,” he added.
He revealed that Alhaji Sani Zorro, a former Senior Special Assistant to the First Lady on Public Affairs, had contacted him to question the authenticity of the claim and communicate Aisha Buhari’s stance that her marriage to the late President was never dissolved.
“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,” he noted.
Kperogi acknowledged that Mrs. Buhari alone has the authority to define the state of her relationship and that her account should be accepted as definitive. He further stated that the actual content of the claim had become less relevant in comparison to the harm its disclosure had 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,” he admitted.
In closing, he emphasized that there was no malicious intent or external influence behind his actions. “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 concluded.
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