Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has criticised Professor of Journalism at Kennesaw State University in the United States, Farouq Kperogi, over a recent claim that former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, had divorced her late husband, Muhammadu Buhari, before his death.
Naijaonpoint reports that Kperogi had apologised for a post he made earlier claiming that Aisha Buhari was no longer married to the late president and had reverted to her maiden name, Aisha Halilu, before his passing, citing unnamed inside sources.
In a post via 𝕏 on Tuesday, Bwala condemned the journalist’s assertion, stating that modern journalism is riddled with lies, blackmail and fake news
He faulted Kperogi over the use of the statement, ‘inside sources told me,’ which underpins the insincerity that some journalists use to blackmail people without proper verification.
Bwala further stated that the rise of new media has empowered the public to identify and challenge fake news, urging Nigerians not to allow themselves to be manipulated or blackmailed by individuals misusing journalism.
He said, “The lesson to learn from the error of Farouq Kperogi who lied about the beloved wife of our late president Buhari, is that modern journalism is riddled with lies, blackmail and fake news. He even said “inside sources told me” This underpins the insincerity that sometimes journalists use to blackmail people; especially On-Air-Personalities who called themselves journalist without any form of formal training or tutelage in that regard.
“Thankfully, the democratization of media through the new media has opened us all into the possibility of uncovering fake news, lies, and blackmail.
“Do not surrender your will or integrity to the conspiracies in the media. Don’t let anybody hide under the pretex of journalism to blackmail you; rise , demand and enforce your rights. Nothing is new under the heavens”