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DIVORCE GAFFE: FAROOQ KPEROQI BEGS AISHA BUHARI
Nigerian journalism professor and ace columnist, Farooq Kperogi, has profusely apologized to former First Lady Aisha Buhari over his sensational claim that she had actually divorced the late President Muhammadu Buhari before he died in The London Clinic in the British capital, upper Sunday, July 13.
In the post made on his Facebook page on Wednesday, July 16, Kperogi wrongly claimed that Aisha and Buhari were not husband and wife before he died. In fact he asserted that the former First Lady had reverted to her maiden name, Aisha Halilu.
“People have been circulating a quote attributed to Aisha Buhari, claiming that Buhari asked her to seek forgiveness from Nigerians on his behalf,” Kperogi wrote. “I can’t confirm the authenticity of that claim, but what I do know is that before Buhari’s death, he and Aisha were no longer married. They had divorced, and Aisha reverted to her maiden name, Aisha Halilu.”
He tried to substantiate the gaffe, saying: “If you paid close attention, you would notice that Aisha didn’t go to Daura when he retired to the town after leaving office. Buhari was also alone when he later relocated to Kaduna.
“In fact, when he fell ill and it was suggested that Aisha travel to London to care for him, she reportedly hesitated because she was no longer his wife. She eventually went in the last few days before he died, but only after intense persuasion.
“Even now, during this period of mourning, she seems understandably conflicted about her role.
“So, I’m genuinely curious to know when and where Buhari told her to beg Nigerians for forgiveness. Where did she even say this?”
However, the public affairs analyst released a lengthy statement on Sunday where he took back his words. In the statement titled: “Apology to Aisha Buhari,” Kperogi admitted that his July 16 Facebook post titled “Aisha Buhari, Divorce, and Forgiveness Claim” was ill-judged and had caused significant emotional distress to Mrs. Buhari and her close associates.
“Although I absolutely should have foreseen it,” Kperogi said, “I honestly didn’t anticipate the profoundly painful consequences that my July 16 Facebook update… 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.”
Mr. Kperogi disclosed that the claim had come from a trusted source whom he described as having “unimpeachable integrity,” but who, according to him, never intended for the information to become public.
“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,” he explained.
Kperogi also revealed in the statement that Mr. Sani Zorro, a veteran journalist and former senior special assistant to the former First Lady on Public Affairs, contacted him to question the accuracy of his claims. And that Zorro relayed Mrs. Buhari’s position that her marriage remained intact until President Buhari breathed his last, upper Sunday in London.
“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 said. “After all, as the late MKO Abiola memorably said, no one can give you a haircut in your absence.”
The prolific writer however acknowledged that Aisha Buhari has the sole authority to speak to the reality of her marriage, regardless of what may have been reported or believed by others.
“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 wrote.
