Farooq Kperogi, a Nigerian-American professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, has publicly apologized to former First Lady Aisha Buhari over a recent claim that she was no longer married to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a post published on Sunday, July 20, via his verified Facebook page, Kperogi described the incident as “one of the worst and cruelest lapses of judgment” in his life and expressed “unfathomable personal anguish” over the controversy that followed.
“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 wrote.
Kperogi admitted that although the source of his information was someone he considered credible, he erred by making the information public.
“Going public with the information was an error on my part, as not every well-sourced information is for public consumption,” he added.
He disclosed that Alhaji Sani Zorro, a former Senior Special Assistant to the First Lady on Public Affairs, had reached out to him directly to question the validity of the claim.
In response, Kperogi acknowledged Aisha Buhari’s right to define the status of her own marriage. “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,” he wrote.
Reflecting on his actions, Kperogi admitted to violating his own ethical principles and reiterated that he had no malicious intent. “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.”
Kperogi originally made the claim in a now-controversial Facebook post on Wednesday, July 16, titled “Aisha Buhari, Divorce, and Forgiveness Claim.” In that post, he alleged that Aisha had dropped the Buhari surname, reverted to her maiden name Halilu, and had distanced herself from the former President during his retirement and illness.
