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By Myke Agunwa
Renowned academic, Prof. Farooq Kperogi has tendered an apology to Mrs Aisha Buhari over his earlier claim on the divorce of the former first lady by late former President, Muhammad Buhari.
Aisha Buhari had at the demise of the husband, told Nigerians that Buhari asked her to seek forgiveness from Nigerians whom he had offended in any way during the discharge of his duties as president and Commander-in- Chief of the armed forces.
But countering the statement, Kperogi a Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, United States of America, alleged that Aisha was no longer married to the late former President Buhari and was not in a position to tender such an apology. He went further to add that Aisha had dropped Buhari as her surname and reverted to her maiden name, Halilu.
The exposure generated a lot of controversy among Buhari’s relatives as they mourn the late leader.
But Kperogi in a counter statement on Sunday apologized for the sensitive disclosure of the status of Aisha’s marriage status.
Thought he did not equivocally say that the statement was false, he simply said that it was sensitive and was not supposed to be made public.
He admitted that he ought to have seen the controversy and pain the disclosure could have caused the family but maintained that he was always thorough with his statement and not flippant with words.
His words, “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.
“I realize 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.
“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.