Farooq Kperogi, a US-based Nigerian professor of journalism, has retracted his claim that the late former President Muhammadu Buhari divorced Aisha, his wife, before his passing earlier this month.
On July 16, Kperogi, in a Facebook post, stated that Buhari and Aisha were no longer married, claiming that the former first lady had reverted to her maiden name, Halilu.
He also alleged that Aisha did not return to Daura with Buhari when the former president retired to his hometown after leaving office.
He added that it was “only after intense persuasion” that Aisha travelled to London to take care of Buhari while he was battling with the illness that eventually led to his death.
However, in a retraction on Saturday, Kperogi apologised to the former first lady “for the needless and deeply regrettable hurt I have caused”.
He said Sani Zorro, a former aide to Aisha on public affairs, reached out to him to “question the accuracy of my claims,” adding that “going public with the information was an error on my part, as not every well-sourced information is for public consumption”.
“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,” Kperogi wrote.
“It’s one of the worst and cruellest lapses of judgment 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.
“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.”
Buhari died on July 13 at a London clinic. He was 82 years old.
