A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has apologised for referring to a journalist, Eyo Charles, as “stupid”.
Fani-Kayode said this in a statement on Wednesday.
He said, “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.”
The former minister, however, 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 remained a friend of the media and would be the last to seek to disparage those that are honourable and noble within its ranks.
The former minister had come under heavy criticism for calling the reporter ‘stupid’ during a press conference in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
In a video that has since gone viral on social media, Fani-Kayode is seen giving the Daily Trust reporter a dressing down for asking him a “stupid question”.
The journalist was said to have asked Fani-Kayode who bankrolled his recent tour of several southern states.
However, the former minister, who was infuriated by the question, said the journalist was stupid.
The management of Daily Trust had threatened to report to the police if any harm came to its reporter.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Press Centre (IPC) have slammed Fani-Kayode for the outburst.
NUJ said Fani-Kayode’s reaction was “reprehensible, dishonourable and irritating” while the IPC said it was “repulsive”.
