FEMI FANI – KAYODE APOLOGIZES FOR CALLING DAILY TRUST JOURNALIST ‘STUPID’
Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani – Kayode, has apologized for referring to a journalist who works with the Daily Trust, Eyo Charles, as ‘stupid’.
Fani-Kayode made the apology in a statement via his official Twitter handle on Wednesday, August 26th, 2020.
He tweeted; “I met with my advisors till late last night and I wish to say the following. I hereby withdraw the word ‘stupid’ which I used in my encounter with a journalist in Calabar. I have many friends in the media who I offended by losing my cool and using such words. I hereby express my regrets for doing so.”
However, he denied allegations that he was threatening to harm the Daily Trust reporter.
“I do, however, wish to state categorically that no threat of physical harm was ever made to the journalist in question and neither did I send anyone to threaten him. Anyone that says otherwise is lying and I challenge them to bring the proof.
“I would never seek to physically harm a journalist. For the last 30 years I have defended and worked with journalists and fought for the right of freedom of expression,” he said.
Fani-Kayode said he remains a friend of the media and would be the last to seek to disparage those that are honourable and noble within its ranks.
“I would be the last to seek to disparage those that are honorable and noble within its ranks. I hope that this will assuage the pain and anger of anyone that was hurt or offended by this ugly episode. I have now put this matter behind me and moved on,” Fani-Kayode tweeted.
Recall that in a video that has since gone viral on social media, on Tuesday, August 25th, 2020, Fani-Kayode was seen reprimanding the Daily Trust reporter for asking him a “stupid question”.
The reporter was said to have asked Fani-Kayode who bankrolled his recent tour of several southern states.
The former minister had come under heavy criticism for calling the reporter ‘stupid’ during a press conference in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) had condemned the former minister while the management of Daily Trust had threatened to report to the police if any harm came to its reporter.
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